Live Updates: Amid rains, over 63% voting in Tamil Nadu; M Karunanidhi confident of winning, Jaya says wait for results
Follow live updates of Tamil Nadu assembly elections:
Voting in 232 constituencies of Tamil Nadu state, which will decide the fate of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her arch rival and nonagenarian M Karunanidhi, is currently underway.
The BJP is seeking to make inroads in Tamil Nadu here the power has oscillated between the AIADMK and the DMK for decades.
Besides AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and the DMK's 91-year-old wheelchair-bound Karunanidhi, the poll arena in Tamil Nadu also has two other chief ministerial candidates-- actor turned politician Vijayakant of the DMDK-PWF-TMC combine and PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss.
Jayalalithaa, seeking a second successive term in office, and Karunanidhi, eyeing to lead DMK to power after back-to-back drubbings in the 2011 assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, are contesting from R K Nagar in Chennai and Thiruvarur respectively.
Meanwhile, rains lashed various parts of Tamil Nadu on Monday, causing inconvenience to voters who queued up at polling booths to exercise their franchise in assembly elections.
Light rainfall occurred in several places in districts of Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Sivaganga, Tiruvallur, Villupuram and Kancheepuram while some parts in Ramanahtpram district received heavy rainfall.
Voters reached the polling stations with umbrellas like former Union Minister P Chidambaram in Sivaganga district. The rains were caused by a low pressure over the Indian Ocean, which continued to remain stationary.
Latest Updates
63.7% voters turnout recorded till 3 PM.
Tamil Nadu recorded a poll percentage of over 42% by 1:30 pm even as voting was hampered in some districts due to heavy rain, a top election official said.
He said appropriate recommendations would be made on extending the voting time in rain affected areas.
# Voters reached the polling stations with umbrellas like former Union Minister P Chidambaram in Sivaganga district.
# The rains were caused by a low pressure over the Indian Ocean, which continued to remain stationary. Met office said heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely to occur at one or two places over South Tamil Nadu.
Puducherry records 30.55% voting at 11 am. Tamil Nadu records 25.2 % polling.
Speaking to media, state Election Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said, "There are no reports of violence at any polling booths so far. Salem, Nammakal and Tiruvallur repoted more than 30% polling so far."
Puducherry records 27.52% voting at 11 am.
# Actor Kamal Hasan casts his vote in Chennai.
We have done our duty, hope the others have also done: Kamal Hasan
In two days, you will know as to what is the judgement of the people: CM Jayalalithaa after casting her vote.
Volunteers assist senior citizens who arrive at a polling booth in Chennai to cast their vote.
DMDK-PWF chief ministerial candidate Vijayakanth casts his vote in Kaveri High School, Saligramam.
Tamil Nadu witnessed brisk polling in 232 Assembly constituencies with over 18% voters exercising their franchise by 9 AM.
Puducherry records 10.34 % voting as of 9 am.
Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha casts her vote at Chennai's Stella Maris College.
DMK Treasurer M K Stalin casts his vote in SIET College, Chennai.
Everyone should vote, that is a duty: Rajinikanth after casting his vote in Chennai's Stella Maris College.
PM Modi urges voters
DMK president M. Karunanidhi after voting
# We will win enough number of seats, our winning prospects are bright.
# Money distribution is curbed to a level, but there are incidents of cash transfer through trucks.
# People have question in their mind if Election Commission will initiate action against them.
(ANI inputs)
Voting begins in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth casts his vote in Chennai's Stella Maris College.