Among the handful of high-profile candidates contesting the 2016 Assembly elections, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy created a flutter by riding a motorcycle to the polling booth in Thilaspet to cast his vote.
The ardent believer that he is, Mr. Rangasamy began the day with a special puja at the Appa Paithiam Sami temple that he constructed as a memorial for his mentor and seer in Gorimedu.
It was shortly after noon —after the passage of ‘Rahukalam’ and ‘Yamagandam’ —that the three-time Chief Minister came out from his residence on Vinayagar Koil Street, Thilaspet and took out his black colour Yamaha bike.
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Surrounded by his party men and supporters, he rode on the bike towards the polling station located at Government Boys School which falls under Indira Nagar constituency.
Media not allowed
The media was not allowed inside and after he cast his vote, Mr. Rangasamy emerged from the booth and expressed confidence in securing popular mandate.
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“The Government has in its five years kept all its promises and implemented various welfare measures. We believe that the people will repose their faith in us,” he said.
Among the first to cast his vote was Congress veteran and former Union Minister of State V. Narayanasamy.
After casting his vote in a booth in Raj Bhavan constituency, he told the media that he was optimistic of the Congress-DMK alliance coming to power in the UT.
“The people of Puducherry are with us,” he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy also alleged that AIADMK candidates had indulged in eleventh-hour inducement of voters and that the Congress had raised a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission. He also sought strong action against those who indulged in such inducement to the voters in violation of the model code of conduct.
Former Congress Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition V. Vaithilingam on Monday exercised his franchise at the Government School in Madukkarai which falls under Nettakuppam constituency.
PCC president
Puducherry PCC president A. Namassivayam cast his vote at the Middle School booth in Manavely.
“The high turnout in spite of the rain shows the determination of the people to usher in a change,” he told reporters.
AIADMK Election Wing Secretary and former Minister P. Kannan exercised his franchise at a booth in Susila Bhai Government School in Raj Bhavan constituency.
AINRC MP R. Radhakrishnan and AIADMK MP N. Gokulakrishnan exercised their franchise in their respective residential areas.
“High turnout in spite of rain shows the determination of the people to usher in a change”