The Tamil Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking urgent intervention to address what it described as a “transport paralysis” that has left thousands of voters stranded across Tamil Nadu on polling day.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, party founder Joseph Vijay expressed “deep concern and indignation” over the lack of public transport, alleging that thousands of voters were unable to reach polling booths due to the large-scale requisitioning of buses for election duty.
“The complete absence of buses or alternative public transport is not a minor inconvenience—it appears to be a case of serious misplanning by the State Transport Corporation and administration, amounting to an assault on the fundamental right to vote,” Vijay said.
He pointed to chaotic scenes at major bus terminals including Koyambedu Bus Terminus, Kilambakkam Bus Terminus, and Madhavaram Bus Terminus, where large numbers of commuters were reportedly stranded.
The party alleged that voters travelling from within the State, other parts of India, and even overseas were left helpless due to the diversion of transport resources without adequate contingency arrangements. It warned that the situation could lead to “effective disenfranchisement” of a significant section of the electorate, undermining free and fair elections mandated under Article 324 of the Constitution.
TVK also flagged reports of long queues and slow voting processes at several polling stations, cautioning that delays could discourage voter turnout. It urged the ECI to appoint supervisory officers to monitor polling booths and ensure smoother queue management.
Calling for immediate remedial measures, the party demanded deployment of emergency public transport services and an extension of polling hours by two hours in affected constituencies.
“Polling must be extended till 8 pm. This is well within the Commission’s powers and has been exercised in the past for far lesser disruptions,” the letter said, adding that all voters who reach polling stations before the revised deadline should be allowed to cast their vote.
Meanwhile, many voters posted videos on social media about the non-availability of buses in Chennai and criticised the government for not providing adequate transport to reach their hometowns to cast their votes.
Published on April 23, 2026