Coimbatore: Devoid of the usual crowds and celebrations, district headquarters of all political parties in the city had just a handful of cadres in sombre mood on Sunday morning.
AIADMK leaders had instructed cadres not to gather in large numbers at party offices because of the Covid-19 norms and due to the complete lockdown, a member said. “Members other than the party agents, who were at the counting centre, were asked to celebrate at home.” DMK, BJP and Left party offices were also deserted.
Later in the evening, when it became clear that DMK will form the government, vice-president of the district trade committee of the party C K Mohammed Ali, along with cadres, distributed sweets and burst firecrackers at Ukkadam. Police stopped them and asked them to celebrate at their houses.
Coimbatore: There were high hopes of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader Kamal Haasan registering his maiden electoral victory as he maintained a lead over both his main opponents right from the beginning of the counting. But the victory eluded him the last moment, when BJP candidate Vanathi Srinivasan defeated him by a slender margin of less than 1,800 votes from the Coimbatore South assembly segment.
At the end of a tight race, Vanathi emerged victorious by polling 53,209 votes, while Kamal came second with 5,1481 votes. Congress candidate Mayura Jayakumar, who contested with the backing of the DMK, was placed third with 41,426 votes.
In pictures | Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2021 results
Updated:
Share Article
Updated:
May 02, 2021 11:18 IST
A look at the political scene in various counting centres in Tamil Nadu, where assembly election results are being announced on May 2, 2021.
1/7
Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Agarwal along with other senior police officers inspects counting centres at Anna University on Sunday.
Photo: S.R. Raghunathan
Kamal Haasan in Coimbatore
DMK cadre celebrate at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on May 2, 2021.
Photo: R. Ragu
Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash along with the election observers inspects counting centres at Anna University on Sunday.
Photo: S.R. Raghunathan
Security personnel keeping a vigil at the Government College of Technology, a counting centre for the Assembly elections in Coimbatore on May 2, 2021.
Updated:
Share Article
AAA The police have tightened security in the city in view of the counting of votes on Sunday and the total lockdown.
The counting centre at the Government College of Technology (GCT) remained under three-tier security, which was in place from April 6.
More than 300 personnel from the local police, Tamil Nadu Special Police, Armed Reserve and Central armed paramilitary forces made the security cover at the counting centre.
Police Commissioner S. Davidson Devasirvatham visited the counting centre and reviewed the security arrangements.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) G. Stalin said that entry to the counting centre will be strictly based on Election Commission of India (ECI) norms. Other directions of the ECI including the the ban of victory procession will also be adhered to, he said.
With just two days left for the vote counting, officials on Thursday subjected the election staff, candidates and agents of political parties in each constituency to the Covid-19 (RT-PCR) testing. In Coimbatore South constituency, the testing was conducted at the city corporation’s central zone office. Only those who test negative for the virus would be allowed to enter the counting centre at the Government College of Technology on Thadagam Road. The test results would be announced in a couple of days. A source said 14,868 of the 19,029 people had returned the postal ballots that were distributed to them as on Tuesday.TNN