Chennai: Polling in the 232 out of 234 assembly constituencies began in Tamil Nadu on Monday morning.
Around 5.82 crore voters are set to elect a new 234-member assembly in the polls being held on Monday and on May 23 for Thanjavur and Aravakurichi constituencies.
The Election Commission has postponed the elections in Thanjavur and Aravakurichi after it received complaints about large scale distribution of money to the voters by political parties and their candidates vitiating the electoral process.
In 234 constituencies a total of 3,776 candidates including 320 women are in the fray. There are 1,566 independent candidates are also trying their electoral fortunes.
In the 232 constituencies in which the poll is being held on Monday, there are 3,728 candidates in the fray.
The state is seeing a multi-cornered contest.
The ruling AIADMK is going to the polls aligning with a couple of smaller outfits fielding its candidates in 227 seats and the balance seven has been given to its allies.
The DMK has aligned with the Congress, two Muslim parties and some smaller outfits.
The third front led by the DMDK comprises the CPI-M, CPI, VCK, TMC and MDMK under its fold.
The PMK is going it alone while BJP has aligned with few smaller parties.
Though the fight is mainly between the AIADMK and the DMK the polls might through up a surprise element as well.
–IANS