Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across 234 constituencies saw brisk participation, with long queues reported at several polling stations and steady turnout across urban and rural pockets.The day also saw a strong public focus on high-profile voting, with top political leaders, celebrities and first-time voters turning up in large numbers across Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore and other districts.TVK chief Vijay also drew attention after writing to the Election Commission seeking an extension of polling hours, citing delays and slow movement at multiple booths due to long queues.In a notable highlight, a robot dressed in traditional Tamil attire was deployed at a Chennai polling station to welcome voters, adding a tech-driven attraction to the polling process.Over 5.7 crore voters are deciding the fate of more than 4,000 candidates in a closely watched three-way contest between the DMK-led alliance, AIADMK-led NDA and actor Vijay’s TVK, which is making its electoral debut.

Steady turnout across districts

Polling stations across Tamil Nadu saw steady voter turnout through the day, with long queues reported in many areas. Election Commission data indicated rising participation from morning hours, reaching 56.81 per cent at 1 pm, with several districts recording brisk voting activity across urban and rural regions.

Top leaders cast early votes

Chief Minister M K Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, TVK chief Vijay and senior leaders including P Chidambaram, Kanimozhi, Anbumani Ramadoss were among the early voters. Stalin urged citizens to participate, saying, “Tamil Nadu will win.”

Star power dominates polling day

Kollywood celebrities added major visibility to the election process. Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Sivakarthikeyan, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Dhanush, Vikram, Jiiva, Sasikumar, RJ Balaji, Trisha, Anirudh Ravichander and several others cast their votes across Chennai and other districts. Many actors also encouraged responsible voting and civic participation.

Vijay flags delays, seeks longer polling time

TVK chief Vijay, who is contesting the elections, wrote to the Election Commission seeking extension of polling hours by two hours, citing long queues and slow voting at several booths across Tamil Nadu. In his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, he said, “There are reports from polling stations of voters waiting in long queues to cast their votes, but the polling process is slow,” and urged intervention to prevent voter inconvenience.He also called for better supervision and the deployment of designated officers to ensure smoother crowd management and more efficient polling, adding that delays could discourage voters from exercising their franchise.

Robot greets voters at Vellore booth

At a polling booth in the Government Muslim Higher Secondary School in Vellore, a robot dressed in traditional Tamil attire was deployed to welcome voters. The initiative drew attention as it greeted citizens arriving to cast their votes, highlighting a tech-driven approach to voter engagement.

Three-way political contest intensifies

The main contest is between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, while actor Vijay’s TVK is attempting to emerge as a third force in its electoral debut. DMK leader A Raja claimed the alliance could secure over 200 seats, while opposition leaders expressed confidence of a return to power.

Polling logistics and security

The Election Commission deployed central and state forces, along with EVMs and VVPAT systems across more than 75,000 polling stations. Special facilities were arranged for elderly voters, first-time voters and persons with disabilities, with over 3.6 lakh personnel on election duty.

Results on May 4

Polling will conclude at 6 pm, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The outcome will determine whether the DMK retains power, the AIADMK stages a comeback, or if TVK disrupts the traditional Dravidian political order in Tamil Nadu.