Chennai: Leaders of various political parties were seen in full swing garnering votes for their candidates on the last day of campaign for the first phase of rural local body elections today.
Contestants and leaders tried to make a final rush as the election campaign had to be stopped at 5 pm today. Non-natives of the constituencies where elections will be held have been asked to leave the place after 5 pm.
The Election Commission has been making various arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls on 27 December. Sources said that the places where the polls will be held have been brought under tight security blanket. Around 60,000 cops have been deployed for duty.
It is said that the ballot papers required for the election have been printed and are ready. The things to hold the elections will be handed over the officials tomorrow.
Every voter has to cast four votes in rural local bodies. Election officials said that arrangements have been made in such a way that voters do not get confused. Elections will be held for about 91,000 posts.
About 2,30,000 voters are in the fray for the rural body election which will be held in two phases. The second phase election will be held on 30 December. The votes will be counted on 2 January and the results will be announced on the same day. Winners will assume office on 6 January.
Following this, indirect elections to President posts will be held on 11 January from 7 am to 5 pm. Nominations for the election began on 9 December and the final candidates list was announced on 19 December.
AIADMK and DMK MLAs camped at the constituencies where elections are held and campaigned for their party candidates. It may be noted that elections are not held in nine districts that were newly formed.