Politically volatile Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to polls on Wednesday to decide the next government in their states. Apart from a bitter race for supremacy, Tamil Nadu and Kerala would witness one of the closest electoral battles ever.

For octogenarian chief ministers M. Karunanidhi and V.S. Achuthanandan, both 87, this might be the swansong of their electoral battles.

In Tamil Nadu, admitting that there have been complaints of money distribution in places, a day before the Assembly elections, state chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar called upon the electorate to 'vote as per their conscience'.

“People should come and vote without any fear on Wednesday. We have heard about money distribution in a few places. People should vote as per their conscience,” he said.

Refusing to disclose where the money distribution complaints came from, Mr Kumar said, “Today (Tuesday) is the last night. We have to be very watchful. If any malpractices happen during polling, we could countermand the elections.”

On money distribution, he said, “The open play of money distribution has changed to an underplay now. But it is tough to estimate how much money has gone to the voters. But, the public have been cooperative with the commission.”

He added that they had registered 1,123 cases against money distribution.

Violence in Kerala

Meanwhile in Kerala, unnerved by the violence which marked the end of campaigns, police have put up elaborate security arrangements for the Assembly election, with maximum deployment in the politically-volatile and violence-prone Kannur district.

As many as 40 companies of central paramilitary forces and 44 companies of state police have been deployed across 140 Assembly constituencies in the state. Each company consists of 100 police personnel. On the whole, over 80,000 policemen will be on duty across the State to ensure a free and fair poll.

“People can come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise without any fear of violence,” the director general of police, Mr Jacob Punnoose, told Deccan Chronicle. “We have taken all steps to ensure their safety.”

He added that each polling station had been judged from the security point of view and forces deployed proportionate to the posisbility of violence.

The Election Commission has identified 3,037 booths as sensitive of which 1,257 are in Kannur district alone.

As many as 10 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 3,000 personnel of the state police have been deputed in Kannur for poll duty. There are about 300 super sensitive booths in the district which would be manned by paramilitary forces.

Poll points

Voting for 49-0

Voters who do not wish to cast their vote can use rule 49-0. They can sign the registry (17A), as all other voters do, but write 49-0 near their signature.

They can also mention the reason behind the choice.

What is 49-P?

If you come to know, someone else has cast your vote, you can still vote with a ballot paper. As per rule 49 P, you will be required to sign on the ballot sheet. You could also contact the booth officer and exercise your franchise.

Polling will be held between 8am and 5pm in Tamil Nadu. Kerala will start an hour early, at 7am to 5pm.