Senior citizen Gundu Malliga (80) and first time voter K. Sathya (22) had to wait for equally long periods of time to vote on Saturday in the R.K. Nagar bypoll. Yet, both of them displayed a commendable determination to vote despite odds, pointing to a need to strengthen welfare measures and development initiatives.
“We will get better facilities once we vote,” said Ms. Gundu Malliga. “Our constituency depends on welfare measures of the government. My vote will also determine the course of policy making in the State. Huge crowds will not deter me,” added Ms. Sathya.
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Such electors who visited polling stations in areas such as Kasimedu, Korrukupet, Tondiarpet, New Washermenpet and Old Washermenpet reportedly had to wait for more than 45 minutes.
“We had to wait longer this time due to the crowds,” said D. Kalai, of Kasimedu.
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More electors visited many of the 22 vulnerable polling booths, when compared to previous elections. The 22 polling stations were spread across areas such as Tondiarpet, Korrukupet, Kodungaiyur and New Washermenpet.
“All the 230 polling stations were monitored by web streaming and web recording,” said an official. Even as the Communist Party of India pointed to a range of violations to the model code of conduct, minimal disruptions to polls were reported in the constituency.
In addition to making major innovative promises in R.K. Nagar during the campaign, AIADMK functionaries also encouraged electors in R.K. Nagar with simple civic schemes such as planned micro-level landscaping of the polluted neighbourhoods with trees equivalent to the number of votes secured by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the by-election.
Residents of the constituency were also able to watch the webstream on their TVs through the Chennai head-end of Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV. The EVMs will be stored in the strong room of the counting centre located in Queen Mary’s College. The inner perimeter of the counting centre would be guarded by the Central Armed Police Force personnel. The scrutiny of 17A Register and other connected documents will be done by the observer and returning officer at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday.
(Photos credit: V.Ganesan, B.Jothi Ramalingam, S.R.Raghunathan)