Cash distribution during polls is a `menace in TN,’ would be curbed at all cost, says CEC

Chennai: Stating that distribution of money to voters was a "menace" in Tamil Nadu, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday said that the forthcoming assembly polls in the state would be "a different one."The entire election machinery would take stringent measures to curb the distribution of cash and other inducements to voters, Gyanesh Kumar told reporters in Chennai. "The election machinery is geared up to ensure that this menace in TN is not there this time. All the political parties have also given us their commitment to curb the menace. The upcoming assembly election in TN is going to be a different one," he said.
He lauded the law and order situation in the state, describing it as "perfect" and said Tamil Nadu would witness the highest polling percentage in the country in the assembly election, even better than the "flawless election in Bihar".Efforts were also taken to make the entire election process robust, as voting data would be uploaded by the officials in the polling station to avoid delay in uploading the voting percentage.He was non-committal on political parties' request for a single-phase poll in the state. He said ECI has taken note of their views, but would take a decision after considering multiple factors. The decision would be made public when the election schedule is announced, he added.He described TN's gender ratio as "phenomenal", pointing out that women voters outnumber men. However, he said it was not appropriate to compare the elector-to-population ratio with the 2011 Census.He also appreciated govt employees, booth level officers, and stakeholders involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Tamil Nadu, and said the final roll, with 5.67 crore electors, was published. Only 216 appeals were filed before collectors, he said.Over 2,500 centenarian electors in TNThere are 2,530 centenarian voters in Tamil Nadu, according to the ECI. Young voters in the age group of 20-29 years would account for 1.05 crore out of the total 5.67 crore electors.Of the total voters, women account for 2,89,60,838 electors as against 2,77,38,925 men voters. Third gender accounts for 7,617. The state has 12.51 first-time electors (18-19 yrs) and 67,053 service electors. The state has a total of 75,032 polling stations — 44,065 rural and 30,967 urban. The average voters per station is 756.With 3.99 lakh electors above 85 years and 4.63 lakh PwDs, the ECI has said that necessary measures, including provision of volunteers with wheelchairs to facilitate them to cast their franchise without any hassle.