Polling begins in Tamil Nadu and Bengal; tight security in booths

CHENNAI: Voting has begun in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for the assembly elections. The polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm. Voting is being held in a single phase in all the constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Voting is going on in 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in the first phase in West Bengal. Tight security has been put in place at the booths in view of the clashes.. The 152 seats in the first phase in Bengal are spread across 16 districts in North, West and South Bengal. Voting is going on in 29 of the remaining 142 constituencies.

Tamil Nadu witnessed a more intense campaign than in previous elections. The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance sought votes by highlighting its achievements and offering freebies. Along with the Congress, CPM, CPI, and DMDK parties, SDPI is also in this front.

The NDA, which includes the BJP and AIADMK, led the campaign by highlighting the corruption of DMK ministers, the shortcomings of the home ministry, and the lack of safety for women. Parties including the PMK are also in the NDA. The campaign of the TVK led by actor Vijay was mainly attacking the DMK. TVK has fielded candidates in every constituency.

A fierce battle is taking place in Bengal this time too. The BJP campaigned in Bengal with all its might, aiming to oust the Trinamool Congress, which has been in power since 2011. The campaign was centered on Trinamool Mamata Banerjee. The Congress and the CPM are trying their best to secure votes in their strongholds. BJP's chief ministerial candidate Suvendu Adhikari (Nandigram) and Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Behrampur) are the prominent candidates seeking the polls in the first phase.