Two persons die at polling booths in Madurai, Aruppukottai

Madurai: Two elders collapsed at polling stations in southern districts before casting their votes in the Assembly elections on Monday. However, braving heavy rain, people including many elders and first time voters took active part in election since early morning with six southern districts of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Ramanthapuram and Virudhunagar witnessing 65 to 72 per cent polling till  5 pm.

Subramanian (70) collapsed when he was waiting in the queue to vote at Thiru.Vi.Ka Higher Secondary school in Madurai. Though officials in the polling station rushed him to Government Rajaji Hospital, he died on the way.
In another incident, Kuruvamma Rajalakshmi (70) fell down near the polling station at Gopalapuram in Aruppukottai to-wn. Polling personnel ga-ve her first aid at the Primary Health Centre there. She died on the way to the Government Hospital at Aruppukottai.

Though heavy rain hampered  polling in the morning in Ramanthapuram, Sivaganga, Theni and hill areas in Dindigul districts, voters in Madurai and Virudhunagar actively participated in polling.  

“It's the only weapon for me to punish politicians who failed to serve the people,” said 80-year-old Parusuraman who was taken to the polling station by his grandchildren in the rain at Avaniyapuram.