Low NRIs turnout leads to dip in voting percentage in central TN

Trichy: Multiple Assembly constituencies in central Tamil Nadu with a strong composition of NRIs, mostly men working in the Gulf countries, have recorded voter turnout below the state's average of 85.1%. Unable to avail holidays amid military tensions in the Middle East, limited air connectivity and escalated air fares to fly home have stopped them from returning home for voting. Adirampattinam, a coastal town in Thanjavur district falling under Pattukottai constituency, has a sizable minority population working in the Gulf countries. During SIR, NRIs, through their family members, retained their names in the electorate. But the Iran-Israel-US military conflict has disrupted their travel plans. In booth number 293 in Adirampattinam, only 57.4% of votes were polled. "Low turnout in Adirampattinam because many men working in the UAE did not return to vote. In some booths, the turnout dropped below 70%, lowering the average turnout of Pattukottai constituency recorded at 75.4%," A Veeramani, DMK's booth-level agent, said. In Aranthangi and Thirumayam in Pudukottai district, many voters work in the Gulf countries, Malaysia and Singapore. "Even if we were granted leave, limited air connectivity has escalated the ticket fares from the Gulf. Fares went up four times, many could not go home," B Devendiran, an NRI from Thirumayam working in Dubai, said. Constituencies such as Papanasam in Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai have recorded a low turnout. NRIs who were unable to return home were one of the main reasons for the drop in turnout.On the contrary, Karur district recorded the highest voter turnout in the state at 92.6%. SIR played a role in the increase in voter turnout. Around 26,500 voters were added, but 55,000 names were removed. But the key reasons for the high turnout are that most of the population works within the district or in nearby districts. "Industries such as textile and bus body-building units employ locals. Even those working in Coimbatore and Tirupur have returned to vote," S Vijayan, Cauvery River Protection Association, Karur, said.