Voting for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly commenced at 7 am on Thursday (April 23). While this high-stakes election attracts significant attention, an unexpected addition at a Coimbatore polling station drew public interest: a humanoid robot named Tina.
Tina was positioned at the entrance of the polling booth, holding a steel plate adorned with flowers and greeting voters as they arrived to cast their ballots.
In a video, Tina can be seen dressed in traditional attire, adding a touch of techno-glamour to the usual election day experience.
Heartwarming scenes from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu!
A robot named Tina, dressed in traditional attire, is delighting voters by welcoming them and distributing toffees at the Government Arts College polling station. Built and operated by local college students, this innovative touch… pic.twitter.com/eKLCNrK0De
— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 23, 2026
Voters stopping to cast their votes engaged with the robot, many taking photos and recording videos as it welcomed them in a surprisingly human-like manner.
The presence of Tina highlights a growing trend of utilizing interactive robots in public settings.
Earlier this month in Puducherry, another humanoid robot named Nila also welcomed voters at a polling booth in the VOC Government School.
Nila, dressed in a saree, was created for a similar purpose, marking one of the initial integrations of this technology into the voting process in the area.
Developed by Robo Mirror, the robot functions as an event-based interactive system, capable of operating in various environments such as weddings, corporate events, and public gatherings.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu election is closely monitored, with the primary contest between the ruling alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its coalition partners against the BJP and AIADMK alliance.
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Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also running under his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), joining the list of candidates.
In total, 4,023 candidates are competing across various constituencies, including several notable figures. The vote counting is set for May 4.
Click here for LIVE updates on Tamil Nadu, West Bengal Assembly polls
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: Apr 23, 2026 5:29 PM IST
