CHENNAI: Several
voters
were turned away at polling booths after 6pm on Tuesday as polling staff were of the assumption that the last hour of polling was reserved only for Covid-19 patients, despite clarifications from
Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo and by the Greater Chennai Corporation.
At the polling booth in Prince Srivari CBSE School in
Madipakkam
, functionaries of political parties picked up an argument with polling staff as they disallowed voting for general public after 6 pm.
“We are not aware of the instructions,” said a Chennai Corporation health department official at the polling stations. Similar scenes were witnessed at St Thomas Mount Panchayat Union Middle School in Madipakkam where voters were turned away.
However, the confusion was cleared up within minutes after police officials stationed at the booths clarified with their senior officials, after which public exercised their right.
In these booths, Covid patients too voted, donning full PPE (personal protective equipment) kits. “My family were a little apprehensive initially. But, this is my first election and I did not want to miss the opportunity,” said Prem Kumar, 19, a Covid patient, who voted at Prince Srivari School.