Polling for the 15th Tamil Nadu Assembly started off at a brisk pace this morning with poll percentage crossing more than 60 per cent by about 3 pm.

The day started out hot as is usual for Chennai summer but by about 10 am the weather cooled down and took the voters by surprise with light rains in several parts of the city. But it lasted for a few minutes and voters however continued to pour into the polling booths with long queues in a number of localities.

Chief Electoral Officer, Rajesh Lakhoni, briefing media persons said that there have been heavy rains in parts of Tamil Nadu particularly the southern parts. He has recommended to the Election Commission to consider extending the polling time by one hour in eight districts – Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchi, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Dindigul and Sivagangai.

Political parties, including the AIADMK and DMK, had asked for extension of time in 14 districts.

There has been a healthy turnout of voters, he said. The final vote percentage will be known only tomorrow but some preliminary numbers may be expected later in the evening, he said.

Polling for 232 of the 234 constituencies is on in Tamil Nadu with the elections put off in two districts – Aravakurichi and Thanjavur. The State has 5.82 crore voters. Nearly one lakh electronic voting machines have been deployed in one lakh polling stations.

A multicornered battle is on with the ruling AIADMK fighting to return to power. Others in the fray include the DMK-Congress combine, DMDK-PWF-TMC alliance, the PMK and the BJP.

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