Though our political leaders have not enlightened the voters about the option, 24,824 voters in the state have given vent to their anger against politicians by opting for the 49-O option in the April 13 elections. While Chennai, suffering from various civic issues, tops the list with 3,407 entries, Ariyalur district brought up the last, where only 107 voters favoured the option.
Interestingly, in Rishivandhiyam, where DMDK chief Vijayakanth is contesting, no voter has preferred the 49-O option, while voters of four other constituencies, Neyveli, Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar and Aruppukkottai had a soft corner for politicians and kept away from exercising the option. A meagre 31 voters opted for the 49-O option in Srirangam where AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa is contesting, while 59 voters have opted for the option in chief minister M. Karunanidhi’s Tiruvarur constituency, besides 209 voters at Kolathur, where deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin is testing the waters.
Only three voters have exercised the 49-O option in Kilvelur, which recorded the highest poll percentage of 91 in the state, and Karur district, which also registered the highest poll percentage in TN, had witnessed just 335 voters preferring the 49-O option.
In Nannilam constituency, only one opted for the option and in 19 other constituencies, not even 10 persons have opted for the option.