Polling across Tamil Nadu and the first phase in West Bengal saw high participation, strong security arrangements, and widespread involvement from political leaders, film personalities, and citizens, with appeals for voters to exercise their democratic right.
In Tamil Nadu, voting for the 234 Assembly constituencies began amid tight security, with turnout steadily rising through the day.
The Election Commission reported healthy participation across districts, with Namakkal, Karur, Salem, Erode, and Tiruppur recording some of the highest percentages. Urban centres like Chennai showed comparatively lower turnout but still contributed significantly.
Voting concluded at 6 pm, with counting scheduled for May 4. The state has over 5.73 crore voters, including women, first-time voters, and service voters, with extensive arrangements including 62 counting centres.
The political contest is primarily between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as a potential third force in its electoral debut. Vijay contested from Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East, drawing attention as a key new entrant.
A large number of film personalities cast their votes, particularly in Chennai. Rajinikanth, his wife Latha Rajinikanth, Suriya and Jyothika, Dhanush, Ajith Kumar, Aravind Swamy, Gautham Ram Karthik, and others participated in the voting process.
Several of them also urged citizens to vote, stressing that “every vote counts” and calling participation a civic duty. Political leaders such as Chief Minister MK Stalin, BJP leader Khushbu Sundar, and others also cast their votes.
In West Bengal, the first phase of polling covered 152 constituencies out of 294, with a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth term, while the BJP is attempting a stronger push after previous gains. Voting is being conducted in multiple phases, with counting scheduled for May 4.
The election also saw participation from public figures, including Surinder Singh, father of singer Arijit Singh, who reported smooth polling in Murshidabad.
Overall, the elections in both states were marked by high public engagement, strong administrative arrangements, and significant involvement from film personalities and political leaders, reflecting intense political competition and widespread voter mobilisation. (Agencies)
