Stakes high for AIADMK, DMK as TN goes to polls

Prominent leaders in the contest include DMK's former union ministers—Dayanidhi Maran (Chennai Central), A Raja (Nilgiri SC), both facing corruption charges in 2G scam, T R Baalu (Thanjavur) and  S Jagatrakshakan (Sriperumbudur) and T K S Elangovan from Chennai South, which has the highest number of 42 candidates.

Former Union minister Mani Shankar Iyer of Congress is fighting from Mayiladuthurai in Cauvery delta, while PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss and his NDA ally Vaiko of MDMK are testing their fortunes from Dharmapuri and Virudhunagar respectively.  

The electoral authorities have made arrangements for trouble free voting by 5.50 crore eligible voters in about 60,817 polling stations in the state, where 845 candidates, including 55 women aspirants are testing their fortunes.

More than 2.93 electoral officials will be deployed for the polling, which will begin at 7 AM and end at 6 PM, authorities said.