181 critical polling stations; 8,050 vulnerable booths across Tamil Nadu

Over 77,000 senior citizens and 50,000 differently-abled persons in Tamil Nadu seek postal ballot papers for elections.

77,445 senior citizens, 50,676 differently-abled persons seek postal ballot papers

The Election Commission of India has identified 181 polling stations in 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu as “critical”, ahead of the April 19 poll. It has also identified 8,050 polling booths across all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State as “vulnerable”.

Dindigul constituency has 39 critical polling stations, the highest in the State, followed by Chennai North (18) and Arakkonam (15). Salem and Villupuram have 14 each, followed by Tirunelveli (13) and Cuddalore (11).

Other constituencies with critical booths are: Dharmapuri and Tenkasi have nine each, Karur (eight), Chidambaram (seven), Tiruvallur (five), Kallakurichi and Ramanathapuram have four each, Arani (three), Sivaganga and Thoothukudi have two each, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Perambalur, Tiruvannamalai have one each.

A polling booth is identified as critical based on a list of criteria, including whether the polling was more than 90% and if 75% of them favoured one candidate in the last election, whether it recorded less than 10% polling or whether any violence leading to registering of an FIR was recorded in the last five years, etc.

If a polling station is identified as critical, the Commission would ensure enhanced security measures such as deployment of sufficient Central armed police force personnel or provide additional civil measures such as webcasting, among others.

Webcasting shall be done in all critical polling stations or at least in 50% of total polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations, whichever was higher. “Critical events in and around the polling stations shall also be videographed,” according to the Commission.