Assembly voting high, LS polling weak

Talking to reporters he said that it was a shame that Vellore voters were denied a chance to exercise their franchise and urged on the election commission to conduct the polls to the Vellore LS seat on May 19 along with the bypolls to four assembly segments.

At Katpadi constituency, DMK treasurer Duraimurugan was miffed as presspersons continuously hounded him.

While polling for the parliamentary constituencies in Arakkonam, Tiruvannamalai and Arni were sluggish touching only 52.76% (Tiruvannamalai) and 54.82% (Arni) bny 3 pm, the figures crossed 63 per cent for the same period in the Ambur, Gudiyattam(reserved) and Sholingur assembly segments in Vellore district which went to the polls on Thursday.

Except for some minor issues, no major problems were reported about EVM functioning in areas visited by this reporter. In most places, after noon polling activity witnessed a dip due to heat.

Clashes were reported from two places Aarni in Tiruvannamalai district and Gudiyattam in Vellore district. However, security personnel intervened in time and restored order.