First set of EVMs to reach Salem on Pongal

A fleet of seven vehicles left in the early hours loaded with 2,762 control units and an equal number of ballot units. 

One police sub inspector and 7 armed guards will accompany the convoy. In the coming week another lot of EVMs will begin to make their way from other states. Tamil Nadu needs 82,000 EVMs. While 10,000 would be arriving from Maharashtra, another 15,000 will be moved from Gujarat. A major chunk is to come from Bihar, a massive 50,000 units of EVMs. 

“We expect Bihar to move them once they dispose of any pending petitions,” said Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni. Bihar’s Assembly polls were held in October 2015. Lakhoni who oversaw election preparedness in Coimbatore three days ago covering eight districts by holding meetings with district officials said a similar meeting in Madurai was scheduled for January 19. 

Meetings with district officials from Trichy and Chennai would be held after the forthcoming Assembly session ends. Tamil Nadu goes to polls this summer to elect members to the 234 seats.