EC declares 10% polling booths in TN as sensitive

Chennai: Around 10% of the polling booths in Tamil Nadu have been declared sensitive by the Election Commission. Of the 66,007 polling stations across the state, 6,640 are sensitive.
The poll panel has classified polling stations as sensitive based on the expenditure incurred by candidates during campaigning, and the law and order situation. There are 1,223 polling booths in the state which are sensitive since candidates have reportedly spent a lot during campaigning.In such expenditure sensitive booths, paramilitary and expenditure observers from other states have been appointed so that they are not influenced by the political parties.
In Chennai city, there are 298 sensitive booths. In these booths, either there had been a scuffle among workers of political parties during earlier elections or there was a problem during campaigning this time. "At the sensitive booths in Chennai, we held flag marches of paramilitary as well as state police personnel. The forces will be situated close to the booths and will be involved in controlling the crowd during polling," said a senior police officer.
In rural areas, several booths were marked sensitive due to caste issues. "Many booths are situated in villages where there have been caste clashes or dalits are a minority. In order to make dalits and other minorities vote without any fear, the booths have been marked sensitive and paramilitary and police forces have been sent to these areas," said the officer.