Pollachi Constituency Sees Slight Dip in Voter Turnout in 2024 Lok Sabha Election

The Pollachi Parliamentary Constituency in Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 70.70% in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, a marginal decrease from the 70.78% turnout in the 2019 election, according to provisional data released by the Chief Electoral Officer. Despite the slight decrease, the constituency maintained a relatively high level of voter participation.

Polling in the Western Tamil Nadu region, which records active polling as mercury level soars, per centage likely to drop, was brisk in the morning hours. However, some voters staged protests due to a lack of bus services to reach their hometowns and cast their votes. The Erode constituency saw 25.37% votes polled by 11 a.m., while Krishnagiri witnessed 23.97% and Coimbatore had 23.13%. Pollachi polled only 21.61% votes by the same time.

Two senior citizens, N. Palaniswamy and P. Chinnaponnu, tragically died at polling stations in Salem while exercising their democratic right to vote.

Why this matters: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are a critical test for India's democracy, with the outcome determining the country's political landscape for the next five years. The voter turnout in constituencies like Pollachi serves as an indicator for the level of citizen engagement and participation in the democratic process.

The overall voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was 69.46% for the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies, while the polling percentage in the Vilavancode Assembly by-election was 64.54%. The Chief Electoral Officer stated that the data shared is approximate, based on sample data from polling stations. The officer also addressed concerns about missing names from the electoral rolls, assuring voters that they will investigate the circumstances and requesting them to check their names during the special summary revision in the future.

In the Pollachi Parliamentary Constituency, the Pollachi Assembly segment recorded the highest poll percentage, followed by Madathukulam, while Thondamuthur had the lowest polling. The polling was largely incident-free, with only minor technical glitches reported in a few polling stations. Key candidates, including DMK's K. Eswarasamy, AIADMK's A. Karthikeyan, and BJP's K. Vasantha Rajan, cast their votes in the constituency. The tea estate-predominant Valparai Assembly segment saw a festive mood as workers enjoyed a holiday to exercise their franchise. Polling stations were equipped with facilities for differently abled and elderly voters to ensure inclusivity.

Key Takeaways

• Pollachi constituency in Tamil Nadu recorded 70.70% voter turnout, a slight decrease from 2019.
• Polling was brisk in the morning but some voters protested lack of bus services to reach polls.
• Two senior citizens tragically died at polling stations while exercising their democratic right to vote.
• Tamil Nadu's overall voter turnout was 69.46% for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies, with concerns over missing names.
• Pollachi's Pollachi Assembly segment had the highest poll percentage, while Thondamuthur had the lowest.