Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday indicated that the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu could be held in a single phase after detailed consultations with political parties.
Addressing a press conference at Leela Palace Hotel, Kumar said that all political stakeholders favored holding polls in a single phase and that the committee would take a final decision after due consideration.
The review meeting, conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission of India, assessed election preparedness across the state.
District Collectors, senior police officials and law enforcement authorities briefed the Committee on logistics, security arrangements and election administration.
Kumar also congratulated first-time voters, stressing the commission’s commitment to enhancing youth participation in what he described as a “festival of democracy.”
He said candidates can submit nominations online through the ECI portal.
“Nominations submitted online are visible to all voters. However, as per the law, candidates can also physically submit the forms before the election official within the stipulated time,” he said, adding that minor inconveniences such as traffic disruptions are secondary to the democratic process.
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Appeal to young voters and the media to spread awareness
Appealing to voters between the ages of 18 and 30, Kumar urged the media to step up awareness efforts. Pointing to the high voter turnout in Bihar, he expressed confidence that politically conscious voters in Tamil Nadu would register one of the highest percentages in the polls.
“We are sure that young eligible voters will come out in large numbers as they did in Bihar to vote for the candidates of their choice. But through the media, I would like to once again request all the youth of Tamil Nadu to come forward and participate in this festival of democracy,” Kumar said.
Clarifying the legal provisions, he pointed out that “Aadhaar card, as per Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, is not a proof of domicile or citizenship. It is a proof of identity as opposed to your name. As far as the identity of the voter is concerned, it is de facto or de jure given to the person who fulfills the eligibility criterion under Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which means that the age of the voter who is eligible to vote must be above 18 years, must be an ordinary resident of the polling station area, and must Be an Indian citizen.”
On the issue of the power of money in elections, Kumar warned against carrying cash beyond the permissible limits. He also referred to the simplified Form 8 process available on the ECI portal for updating names after marriage.
Expressing confidence in the state’s preparedness, Kumar said: “Bihar had one of the most flawless elections in the last decade. All the vote collectors, applicants and the entire electoral machinery, including law enforcement agencies, have assured me that Tamil Nadu will achieve record numbers and will be much better than Bihar.”
