Election Officials Use Mules and Vehicles to Access Remote Polling Stations In a coordinated effort to ensure voter access in remote regions, election officials in Theni and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu have deployed a mix of traditional and modern methods to transport electronic voting machines (EVMs) to isolated polling stations. The operation, described as a "high-stakes logistical challenge," involves navigating difficult terrains, including dense forests and mountainous regions, to reach voters in areas with minimal road connectivity. One of the most remote polling stations is located at Vellimalai Estate in Varasanadu under the Andipatti constituency, which has only five registered voters. Officials transported EVMs to this location via a three-hour journey covering 65 kilometers from Theni. The challenge escalates in the Bodinayakkanur constituency, where Oothukadu and Central Station remain disconnected from modern road networks. For the 307 voters at Oothukadu and 75 at Central Station, EVMs and essential materials are being transported by lashing them to horseback and escorting them through steep forest paths. At Central Station, officials face an additional hurdle: no road connectivity from Kurangani. Equipment is first transported by jeep to Kurangani, then transferred onto two horses for the final 5-kilometer trek to the polling booth. The region is under the surveillance of the Anti-Naxal squad, prompting the deployment of additional police personnel to accompany the team. Similar challenges are encountered in two other hill villages, Top Station and Kolukkumalai, which have 131 and 64 registered voters, respectively.#tamil_nadu #villagers #theni_district #dindigul_district #bodinayakkanur_constituency
