Ruptly
"Tamil Nadu witnessed a record-breaking surge in voter participation on Thursday, with more than 85 percent of its 57.3 million eligible voters casting their ballots across all 234 Assembly seats simultaneously. Footage shows voters registering at a polling station in Chennai's Jaigopal Garodia Vivekananda Vidyalaya (JGVV) matriculation school, after which they received an indelible ink mark on their fingernails to confirm they had cast their ballot to prevent double voting. "Everyone is very helpful. We did not stand in any queue. They made us vote and brought us back to our old place. I am very happy. This time is better than the last time," said voter Shantha. The pivotal 2026 election is reshaping the state’s long-dominant two-party contest between DMK and AIADMK into a high-stakes triangular race, following the emergence of Joseph C Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The TVK has disrupted the status quo by mobilising a significant youth-centric base. Driven by themes of anti-corruption and governance reform, Vijay’s debut has generated substantial traction among urban voters and first-time participants. “I have never voted in my life. This is the first time I am voting. I had a chance to vote here, so I am voting now," said Vishwapujitha, who had come from her own wedding to cast her vote. "I am a first-time voter, it was a bit nervous as well as exciting, and I am just expecting a good society out of this election," added another voter. The surge of first-time voters and the momentum behind Vijay’s ‘whistle’ movement have fuelled projections that TVK could capture 15–20 percent of the vote. According to reports, the election went ahead without major incident. The final results, expected on May 4, will determine the leadership of the southern state for the next five years."
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