CHENNAI: TVK president C Joseph Vijay on polling day urged the ECI to extend voting hours by two hours, citing transport disruptions and slow polling that left voters stranded and queues moving slowly across parts of Tamil Nadu.In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Vijay said thousands of voters were unable to reach polling booths due to a lack of buses at key terminals in Chennai and other parts of the state. He pointed to crowding at Koyambedu, Kilambakkam and Madhavaram bus stands, stating that voters travelling from within the state, other states and abroad were left without transport after buses were diverted for poll duty.Flagging what he called administrative lapses, he alleged that the situation “seems an intentional attempt at misplanning by the State Transport Corporation and administration, which is an outright assault on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed under the Constitution of India.”The “systemic failure has the potential to effectively disenfranchise a large section of the electorate,” he said, adding that it undermines the conduct of free and fair elections under Article 324.Seeking immediate intervention, Vijay asked the poll body to deploy emergency public transport, including additional government buses and shuttles, to ferry voters from terminals to polling stations. He said such services should be coordinated through on-ground announcements, media and official communication channels.He also raised concerns over long queues at polling stations, saying “voters waiting in long queues to cast their votes” were facing delays due to a slow voting process. He called for supervisory officers to monitor booths and ensure that polling is conducted without delays.On extending voting time, Vijay said polling should continue till 8pm in affected constituencies to accommodate delayed voters. “This extension is well within the Commission’s powers and has been exercised in the past for far lesser disruptions,” he wrote.“The Election Commission cannot remain a mute spectator while thousands are denied their constitutional right on polling day,” he added, warning that inaction could suppress turnout and affect public faith in the electoral process.
