CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa cast her vote at about 9.15 a.m. on Monday at the Stella Maris polling booth in the Thousand Lights constituency. She was accompanied by her close associate, Sasikalaa.

Responding to questions from presspersons after casting her vote, Ms. Jayalalithaa said: "I've said all that I wanted to say during the election campaign, in the run-up to the polls."

She also added that she would not like to comment any further before the results were announced.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, who cast his vote at Sarada School near his residence, said that the chances of the DMK front winning was bright. He expected the alliance to win "not less than 200 seats."

He said that he believed that the DMK would be able to form a government on its own.

"Not a bigger election"

Asked if this was the most significant poll since Independence, he said that that was not the case. In 1971, when Rajaji and Kamarajar were together; Anna no more and no significant leader to campaign, he, with the support from Periyar, faced the elections and won a historic majority of 184 seats. "This is not a bigger election than that," he said.

In Karaikudi Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram expressed confidence that the DMK led alliance would win a majority of the 234 seats.

In Tindivanam, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss said that in the next few days a new government would come to power in the State to save it.

Speaking to reporters at Kandanur near Karaikudi after casting his vote, he said the mandate would be a repeat of 2004 parliamentary elections. He said the AIADMK alliance on Sunday had tried to create trouble in order to prevent a peaceful poll. This was because of the fear of defeat.

TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy and Union Minister G.K. Vasan, who cast their votes in Mylapore, said that the days of the present regime were numbered.

The people had made their choice clear in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections would be a repeat of the Lok Sabha elections, they added.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth was among the first few to cast his vote at the Saligramam Kaveri Rangan School in Alandur Constituency, here, right after polling commenced at 7 a.m. He was accompanied by his wife.

Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani and his family members cast their votes just after 8 a.m. at the Corporation school in Kamaraj Nagar, Adyar.

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