Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 65 per cent in the single-phase polling for the 234-member Assembly elections on Tuesday, according to Election Commission of India. The highest voter turnout was seen in Namakkal district (75 per cent) while Chennai logged the lowest voter turnout at 49 per cent.

Leaders of various political parties, several movie actors and general public were seen voting early. From the movies field, Rajinikanth, star couple Ajit Kumar and Shalini, Vijay, Surya, Karthi, Sivakumar reached the polling booth to cast their votes. Ajit Kumar and Shalini had reached their polling booth about 20 minutes before the start of polling to vote early in order to avoid the fan crowd.

However, today’s voter percentage is a dismal count in comparison to 2016 Assembly election in which Tamil Nadu recorded 74 per cent polling.

Totay’s polling will decide the fate of 3,998 candidates in Tamil Nadu. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam (OPS) will have to prove their position after the sudden death of J Jayalalitha in 2016. These elections are important for MK Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) too. After the death of his father M Karunanidhi, he will have to establish his position within his family and the party as the rightful heir.

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, who entered politics with his Makkal Needhi Maiam party, is also contesting the polls from Coimbatore South.

There are 6.26 crore electors in the state, including 3.18 crore women, 3.08 crore men and over 7,200 persons from the third gender. as per the Election Commission of India.

Results will be announced on May 2.

(With inputs from IANS)