Chennai: The high polling percentage of 74.26 per cent recorded in the state has led to a debate if there is anti-incumbency against the ruling party or the presence of more fronts in a multi-cornered fight has contributed for the rise.
The low polling in Chennai hit by floods in December last year has also raised eyebrows since high polling was expected if there is widespread resentment against the state government. The dip in voting in the capital which was around 60 per cent is baffling since the Election Commission has come out with numerous advertisements in nook and corner of the city, besides releasing clippings of appeals by popular personalities in the media.
The 2011 Assembly elections saw a record voter turnout of 78.02 per cent and the DMK, which was the then ruling party, was routed in the polls. The voting in rest of the state was brisk and good, though it was less than that in the previous Assembly elections.
With opinion polls differing in their predictions and some of them predicting a close fight, political analysts were not coming forward to attribute the high voter turn out to anti-incumbency factor. Another factor contributing to the increase in voting percentage could also be the presence of too many fronts in a multi-cornered contest.
The constituencies in Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts polled around 80 per cent leading to speculations that the presence of PMK as a separate front could have drawn more voters in the Vanniyar belt. Besides, the enthusiasm of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, which has joined a strong front this time, could be another reason for the good voter turnout.
Thanjavur, the home district of Tamil Maanila Congress, too saw more voters. The southern districts where MDMK is in the fray in many seats with the support of DMDK has also seen good rise in voters.
In Chennai, the low turnout may be due to the lack of enthusiasm young voters who were low in numbers in most of the booths. Besides, voters could have used the three days leave to visit their native places.
On Friday and Saturday, there was a huge rush in Koyambedu and Perungalathur, from where mofussil buses leave the city. Heavy traffic congestion was witnessed in Tambaram, Peerungalathur and Koyambedu on those days.
