Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India has seized cash, gold, liquor and drugs worth ₹1,262 crore in the state, ahead of the elections scheduled for April 23. Out of this, cash amounting to ₹543 crore was recovered during vehicle checks conducted by surveillance teams across the state.
Addressing the media on poll preparedness, Patnaik said 163 FIRs had been registered for various violations of election rules. She also noted that the social media monitoring cell has taken action to remove 2,180 URLs across multiple platforms to curb the spread of objectionable or unlawful content.
Providing details on the electoral rolls, she said the total number of voters in the state stands at 5.73 crore. This includes 2.93 crore women voters, 2.83 crore men, and 7,728 voters from the third-gender category.
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The state has also recorded a notable addition of 14,59,039 first-time voters, reflecting increased participation in the democratic process. In terms of polling arrangements, a total of 75,064 polling stations have been established across 33,133 locations. These will be equipped with 1,06,418 ballot units, along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines to ensure transparency in voting. To make the process more accessible and inclusive, the Election Commission has set up 249 model polling stations, 325 all-women-managed booths, and 71 polling stations operated by persons with disabilities.
Additionally, 29 polling booths will be managed by youth, while several districts are introducing green polling stations as part of environmentally conscious initiatives, Patnaik said. For security arrangements, 300 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed along with 83,875 personnel from the state police to maintain law and order during the polls.
Responding to questions about mobile phone usage, Patnaik clarified that phones are strictly prohibited inside polling booths. However, arrangements have been made to collect and safely store mobile devices outside polling stations for voter convenience. On concerns related to digital inducements and online influence, she said the Election Commission is working closely with cyber-crime units to monitor social media activity and ensure that the integrity of the electoral process is maintained.
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