Chennai: Neck and neck trends between the ruling AIADMK and principal opposition DMK were witnessed today during the counting of votes polled in the recently concluded rural local body elections.
As the exercise began at 8 am today, postal votes were counted first following which the ballot boxes were opened. Three tier security was provided to the 315 centres where the counting was carried out.
Officials and party representatives were asked not to use mobile phones inside the counting centres. The process was delayed in some centres due to different reasons.
State Election Commissioner R Palaniswamy said the counting was being carried out in a peaceful manner. He further said that the certificates for the winning candidates will be given as soon as the results are announced.
About two lakh officials are employed in the counting. The civic polls were held in two phases on 27 and 30 December. During the first phase, 77.73 per cent of votes were polled and in the second phase 72.70 per cent polling was recorded.
Elections were held for about 91,000 posts. About 2,30,000 voters were in the fray for the rural body elections. 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 were held and campaigned for their party candidates. It may be noted that elections were not held in nine districts that were newly formed.
First EVM winner
Congress candidate Gnana Soundari emerged as winner in the Melpuram Union Councillor election in Kanyakumari. The election to this ward was held using EVM.
Ballot box cut open
The ballot box in Karur district’s Krishnarayapuram was cut open after it got rusted.
1,000 votes rejected
More than 1,000 postal votes were rejected across the State as details were not properly filled. All the postal votes that were polled in Hosur were rejected.
Counting stopped
Thiruvannamalai district Collector Kandhaswamy asked to stop the counting of 26th ward in Chengam Union. The decision was taken after there was confusion as a candidate cast his vote without his name in the voters list. Tension prevailed in Virudhunagar after the key of a ballot box was lost.
Breakfast break
Counting was briefly delayed at a centre in Aranthagi after breakfast arrived late for the staff.