The Hindu Business Line : TN polls `peaceful'

The month-long campaign to the election that is seen as one characterised by an absence of any major issues that could cause a swing favouring one or the other major competitors, saw the politicians announcing a number of freebies to the electorate.

Chennai , May 8

Voting in Tamil Nadu for the 234 constituencies to elect the members of the 12th Assembly concluded today.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Naresh Gupta, told presspersons that the poll had been conducted in a `free and fair' manner and peacefully. There have been no reports of bogus voting. He commended the police for having done "an excellent job."

According to initial estimates about 65 per cent of Tamil Nadu's voter base of 4.63 crore cast its vote. This could be the highest since 1991, he said.

The largest voter turnout was in Madurai and Erode at about 72-73 per cent and in Chennai and Thiruvallur about 61 per cent. The lowest was in Theni, where about 57 per cent voted. These are initial estimates and the final figures would be available tomorrow, Mr Gupta said.

There have been some sporadic incidents of violence and in some cases technical problems with the EVMs (electronic voting machines). But these had not affected the poll process, he said.

The election sees the clash of the two alliances, the AIADMK-led Democratic People's Alliance and the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance. Also in the competition are the BJP, which decided to go it alone, and the newly formed Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founded by the actor Mr Vijaykant.

The month-long campaign to the election that is seen as one characterised by an absence of any major issue that could cause a swing favouring one or the other major competitors, saw the politicians announcing a number of freebies to the electorate. These included free rice, farm loan waiver, televisions and computers. Such sops to the voters were a prominent feature of the campaign.

The DMK-led alliance includes the Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), CPI, CPI (M) and the Indian Union Muslim League. The DMK is contesting in 129 constituencies, Congress 48, PMK 31, CPI (M) 13, CPI 10 and the IUML 3.

The AIADMK alliance includes the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam (MDMK), the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) and a clutch of smaller partners including the factions of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML-TN) and the All India Forward Bloc- Santhanam, a splinter group of the INTUC, the trade union wing of the Congress (I), and Moovender Munnetra Kazhagam.

The AIADMK is contesting in 182 constituencies, MDMK in 35 while the others have shared the remaining 17 seats.

Some of the high profile constituencies are Andipatti, where the Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary, Ms Jayalalithaa, is contesting; Chepauk, where the DMK leader, Mr M. Karunanidhi, is competing; Thousand Lights, Mr M.K. Stalin; Vridhachalam, Mr Vijayakant (DMDK); and Mettur, Mr G.K. Mani (PMK).