CHENNAI: The first phase of election for rural local bodies in Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts on Wednesday witnessed brisk polling as voters lined up in long queues to cast their votes. However, several voters, particularly the elderly, faced difficulties in exercising their franchise using ballot papers.
Though the polling was by and large peaceful, stray incidents of commotion were reported in certain pockets.
In Singadivakkam panchayat in Kancheepuram district, there were complaints of bogus voting. It came to light when Parvathy of Mottur village went to cast vote. She contested it by filing form 17 B and exercised her democratic rights as per section 49 (P) of The Conduct of Election Rules 1961.
In Kalakattur village, a section of villagers tried to waylay project officer of DRDA, Lakshmi, protesting against the removal of 90 names from the voters’ list. They told officials that they had voted in the 2019 LS polls and 2021 assembly elections. Officials had no reply when asked how so many names could disappear from the electoral roll. It stalled voting for nearly three hours. The villagers returned home without casting votes.
Polling in Ullavoor panchayat in Kancheepuram’s Walajabad union was stopped after a candidate, T Lakhmi, and her supporters found that her name was misspelt in the poster pasted in front of the polling station. After the zonal officer assured that a special proceeding would be published in the state election commission website as a corrective measure, voting resumed.
There were complaints of poor arrangements in many remote villages as there were no facilities such as ramps and wheelchairs to enable persons with disabilities cast votes, said a government teacher on election duty, preferring anonymity. Several government employees engaged in polling duty complained of poor arrangements in polling stations in remote areas.
A cross-section of polling officials and voters said voting using ballot papers caused a lot of inconvenience to them.
