Cracker shops, godowns ordered to close during poll, counting

Virudhunagar: All cracker shops and godowns functioning in the district must be closed for seven days during the ensuing election and counting process, Virudhunagar district collector and district election officer N O Sukhaputra has directed. He warned of stringent action if they function.Sukhaputra said that polling for the assembly election has been scheduled on April 23 and counting of votes on May 4. He said that a GO dated March 18, 2026, has been issued stating that all the cracker shops and godowns licensed under the Explosives Act must be closed.He said that as per the GO, all the cracker shops and godowns functioning in Virudhunagar district should be closed from April 21 to 24 during polling. Similarly, they should be closed from May 2 to 4 in view of counting of votes. If any cracker shops and godowns were found to be functioning on these days in violation of the GO, legal action would be initiated against the concerned licence holders, added the collector.