Karunandhi, Rajinikanth among early voters as polling begins in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Polling in 232 of the total 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu began at 7am on Monday morning. Polling will be held in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies on May 23 as the Election Commission has postponed it in the wake of wide spread distribution of money and gifts to voters by political parties. Long queues were seen at several polling stations across the state even before polling began. People, especially morning walkers, queued up in polling stations like DG Vaishnava College at Arumbakkam in Chennai. In Chennai, night rain and cloudy morning seemed to have enthused voters while morning rain seemed to be playing spoilsport in other parts of the state, including Trichy. DMK chief M Karunanidhi, Superstar Rajinikanth, actors Kamal Haasan an Ajith Kumar and chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni were among the early voters. Karunanidhi cast his vote at Sri Sarda Secondary School in Gopalapuram. Rajinikanth exercised his franchise at Stella Maris College in Chennai while Ajith Kumar and his wife Shalini cast their votes at the Government School on Kuppam Beach Road in Thiruvanmiyur. Kamal Haasan cast his vote at Corporation School in Teynampet, and Lakhoni cast his vote at DG Vaishnava College.