At a polling station in Kolinjivadi, near Dharapuram in Tirupur district, an election officer named Thangamani allegedly instructed an elderly woman to tick the 'whistle' symbol assigned to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The instruction sparked an immediate uproar from party agents and local voters, halting the vote for close to an hour.NEAR PALA Dharapuram police were called in to quell the disturbance; a confrontation erupted between the officer and a group of agitated supporters.
Following a swift investigation, the Election Commission terminated Thangamani's posting and appointed Rajammal as the new polling officer for the station, a decision aimed at restoring order and public confidence.
The newly appointed officer restarted the voting process, allowing the remaining electorate to cast their ballots under heightened security.
Police deployment swelled to over a hundred officers to prevent further incidents, reflecting the high stakes of the election in the region.
The elderly voter, whose name is not disclosed due to privacy concerns, later expressed that the experience left her feeling both disrespected and relieved that the issue was addressed swiftly.