Vijay, leader of the Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam, filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission on April 23, 2026, alleging that traffic disruptions near polling stations in Trichy East were deliberately orchestrated to suppress voter turnout.
The complaint came as voter registration for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections opened that morning, with long queues forming at polling booths across Trichy East and Perambur. Vijay stated that voters were being deterred by sluggish processing and inadequate infrastructure, warning that such delays could reduce overall participation.
He demanded three immediate actions: deployment of additional buses and mini-vans to shuttle voters from transit hubs to polling stations, public alerts via media and election officials within hours to inform the public and appointment of dedicated monitoring officers at each polling station to ensure uninterrupted voting.
Vijay also urged election authorities to extend voting hours until 8:00 PM in affected constituencies, citing voter fatigue caused by prolonged waits and traffic bottlenecks. His claims were made amid a high-profile election day in which Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palanisami, and Naam Tamilar Katchi coordinator Seeman also cast their votes.
The Trichy East constituency has seen heightened political activity, with Vijay holding three rallies there since September 13, 2025, including one on April 2 and another on April 19, 2026, following a controversial incident in Karur during a campaign tour that drew legal scrutiny.
Local observers noted that voter registration turnout in Trichy East had drawn statewide attention even before polls opened, reflecting the constituency’s significance in the electoral contest. Vijay’s allegations introduce a new layer of scrutiny over logistical preparedness in key battleground areas.
What specific measures did Vijay request to address voting delays?
Vijay requested additional buses and mini-vans to transport voters from transit hubs to polling stations, public alerts via media and election officials within hours, and dedicated monitoring officers at each polling station to ensure uninterrupted voting.
Why did Vijay allege that traffic chaos near polling stations was intentional?
Vijay alleged that traffic disruptions and long queues were deliberately caused to discourage voters from reaching polling stations, thereby reducing voter turnout in affected constituencies.