Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and DMK president Karunanidhi on Monday voted early in the day.
Jayalalithaa
Ms. Jayalalithaa, after exercising her franchise at a polling station in Stella Maris College around 10 a.m., told reporters that “people’s verdict will be known in two days”.
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“You have waited for so long, if you wait for two more days, everybody will come to know of people’s verdict,” she said.
Karunanidhi
Mr. Karunanidhi cast his vote by 7.45 a.m. at a polling station in Sarada School and later told reporters that “DMK will win necessary seats” to form the government.
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In a Facebook post later he said, “It is the democratic right of every citizen to vote.”
Stalin
DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin along with his wife Durga Stalin too voted early in the day in a polling station in Teynampet.
Mr. Stalin demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged money distribution in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies where the election have been postponed. "There is a wave against the AIADMK and it is working in favour of the DMK alliance," he said, adding his alliance would win all the 234 constituencies. "Even if the ruling party indulges in any irregularities, people are clear that the AIADMK should not be given a chance to rule the state," he said.
Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram exuded confidence that the DMK-Congress alliance will get a good majority and form next government in Tamil Nadu.
“The alliance of DMK, Congress and others will for sure get a good majority. A regime change will happen. I am totally confident that a DMK government will be formed,” he told reporters in Karaikudi after voting.
Mr. Chidambaram also charged the Election Commission with “failing to check distribution of money by AIADMK“.
“Election Commission has failed in checking distribution of money by AIADMK men in Tamil Nadu. The AIDMK men had distributed money at several places,” he alleged.
“Information I am getting for the past 10 ten days confirmed money distribution,” he added.
Though he welcomed flying squad raids and vehicle checks, he said they have “not prevented the distribution of money for votes and taking money for votes“.
He said polls in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies could have been nullified after today’s elections instead of postponing it to May 23.
The EC had postponed the polling in the two constituencies after seizure of huge sums of cash and reports of large-scale distribution of money to voters.
On the detention of three trucks carrying Rs. 570 crore near Tirupur by election officials, the former Union Finance Minister said he was “not aware whether so much of money can be taken to the bank“.
“It is a rare news that so much of money was being carried in containers,” he said while seeking an investigation into the matter.
Referring to the rains in various parts of the state today, he said showers on the polling day are indication of the “change” to come.
Anbumani
“Response to us has been overwhelming. Most of the neutral voters favour us. We expect a huge win in this election. The inputs I've received from booths is that people have opted for the Mango (symbol). We are confident of a huge victory. But the issue is of three hours before the closing time when malpractices may happen. I've asked my partymen to (remain) vigilant. Also, rain is a dampener in some parts. We hope the EC (will) extend polling time.”
Seeman
"Those who distributed money were sinners and all the people should exercise their franchise".
(With agency inputs)