Tamil Nadu Election Campaign Ends; Polling Tomorrow with Tight Security & 48-Hour Silence Period
The campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 officially concluded at 6 PM yesterday, marking the beginning of the mandatory 48-hour silence period. Voting is scheduled to take place on April 23 from 7 AM to 6 PM across Tamil Nadu.
A total of 5.73 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes, with 75,064 polling booths set up statewide. The Election Commission has enforced strict guidelines during the silence period, prohibiting public meetings, rallies, and any form of election-related campaigning through media, including social platforms.
Security has been significantly strengthened, with around 300 companies of armed paramilitary forces deployed, along with over 83,000 police personnel and 40,000+ additional staff. More than 3.4 lakh government employees have been assigned election duties to ensure smooth polling operations.
Authorities have also identified sensitive areas and intensified monitoring. Since March 15, flying squads and surveillance teams have seized cash, liquor, and valuables worth over ₹1,200 crore intended for voter inducement.
In addition, liquor sales have been banned during the 48-hour silence period, with all liquor shops closed until midnight after polling day. Strict checks are being conducted in lodges and marriage halls to prevent unauthorized political activity.
Voters without a voter ID card can still cast their vote by presenting any one of 12 approved identification documents, including Aadhaar, passport, driving license, and PAN card.
After polling, all Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be securely transported to counting centers. Vote counting is scheduled for May 4, along with results for other states including Puducherry, Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal.
