By ACJ-Bloomberg (Batch 2023-24)
Tamil Nadu’s 2024 Lok Sabha election was marked by falling voter turnout as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heat wave warning in certain pockets of the southern state.
The voter turnout was 62% as compared to 72.44% in 2019, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Tamil Nadu has 39 constituencies and a voter base of 6.18 crore. Of this, Chennai has the largest voter base of 39 lakh.
“Due to the rise in temperatures this year, the polling station got minimal participation from the first-time voters,” said Jaganatha.S, polling agent at the Perungudi Government High School of the Chennai South constituency.
In Tamil Nadu, it is a bi-polar contest between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) along with its alliances and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is still trying to get a foothold in the Dravidian state.
Voters in southern and central Chennai complained of names missing from the voters list.
Anjana Krishnan, 36, a resident of Chrompet, Sriperambudur constituency said her name was missing from the voters list. Ironically, her grandfather who passed away a few years back is listed as a voter despite notifying the ECI of his death.
Krishnan is not alone. At least 40 people from a gated community at Gandhinagar in Adyar do not figure in the voters list, said Pashupati Naathan, 78, a resident of this building.
Political analysts said another reason for the low voter turnout is the less-than-expected participation of first time voters. As per ECI, at least 35.67 lakh first time voters are likely to vote in this election.
Senior leaders of political parties including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and M.K. Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, have urged first time voters to cast their votes.
