## Chidambaram slams continuation of Model Code of Conduct in Tamil Nadu
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram expressed strong dissatisfaction with the continuation of restrictions under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in Tamil Nadu till June 4, after voting concluded in the state on April 19.
In a post on social media, Chidambaram questioned the purpose of the MCC after the poll and termed its continuation as "absurd" and a "violation of the rights of citizens." He suggested that if there is any reason for the continuation of restrictions, it should be limited to seven days.
Chidambaram also highlighted the concerns of traders and businessmen in Tamil Nadu due to the prolonged imposition of MCC. He urged the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu to listen to their grievances and relax the restrictions considerably on private citizens.
## High voter turnout in Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections
Tamil Nadu witnessed a high voter turnout of 65.27% in the Lok Sabha elections held on April 19. All 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state went to polls.
The state witnessed a three-cornered contest involving the DMK, the ruling party in the state, the principal Opposition AIADMK, and the BJP. The DMK frontlines the INDIA bloc in the state, also comprising the Congress, Left parties, IUML, VCK, actor-politician Kamal Haasan's MNM, Vaiko's MDMK, and the Gounder community-based KMDK.
The AIADMK, which severed ties with the BJP-led NDA earlier, is leading an alliance of minor parties, including the DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam (PT) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
In the 2019 elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance swept the South state, winning 38 of the 39 seats.