Chennai: A large number of voters from the fishing hamlets and Telugu-speaking areas exercised their franchise in R.K Nagar by-election on Saturday. While the polling percentage stood at 72.72 per cent in the 2011 Assembly election, the voting percent had increased this time due to a different style of campaigning, which witnessed a new high as Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaal, was a major contender.
“Polling booths in Nehru Nagar, Vinoba Nagar, Carnation Nagar, Sudandirapuram and Kamarajar Nagar coming under 38, 41 and 47 divisions of the Chennai Corporation, where Telugu-speaking people are more, witnessed 75 per cent voting,” says S. Santhanam, 38th division councillor. The polling percentage was almost the same in the fishermen areas of Poondi Thangammal St, Naagoorarthottam and Annai Sathya Nagar, according to 39th ward councilor N. Sasikala, who adds that 40 per cent of the voting in the bypoll was by fishermen from slum areas.
Polling stations in other fishermen areas such as Kasimedu, Kaasi Maanagar, Jeevarathinam Nagar, Cheriyan Nagar, Ashokar Nagar, Anna Nagar and Old Washermenpet areas, most of which coming under divisions 39, 40 and 43,. were found busy right from the morning. It may be noted that Jayalalithaa campaigned on June 22 from the statue of her political mentor and party founder M.G. Ramachandran, near the petrol bunk at Kasimedu, highlighting the welfare schemes implemented for fishermen.
