Chennai : Polling in the second phase of rural local body elections in nine newly carved districts of Tamil Nadu commenced at 0700 hrs today morning, amid tight security.
An estimated 34.65 lakh electorate are expected to cast their ballots to fill up more than 10,000 posts in the nine districts.
Elections are being held in Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Kancheepuram, Ranipet,Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Tirupattur, Vellore and Villupuram districts.
More than 16,000 police personnel and nearly 3,000 home guards were deployed on security in 6,652 booths.
State Election Commission officials said polling will be held till 6 p.m, with the last hour — 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. — reserved for COVID-19 patients and those with symptoms of the viral infection.
The entire polling process is being videographed in booths which were identified as vulnerable and sensitive and additional security personnel are posted in these booths.
In the second phase, polling is being held to elect 62 district panchayat ward members, 626 panchayat union ward members, 10,329 village panchayat ward members and 1,324 village panchayat presidents.
Of the total strength of 27,003 posts, 2,981 candidates were declared elected unopposed and 79,433 candidates were in the fray in the elections.
In the first phase, polling was held for 78 district panchayat ward member posts, 755 panchayat union ward member posts, 1,577 village panchayat president posts and 12,252 village panchayat ward member posts.
The casual elections to fill up 418 posts in 28 districts is also being held today.
The counting of votes will be taken up on October 12.
A total of 77.43 per cent polling was recorded in the first phase elections held on October six.
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