75.12% polling in Kerala Assembly elections
By TCN News,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Assembly elections that came after heated campaign of one month led to a high poll percent in Kerala. According to the final details as released by the Election Commission, the poll percentage is 75.12% while it was only just above 72% in 2006. The elections were by and large peaceful, with only minor protests and skirmishes at some places.
The highest poll percent was recorded in Kozhikode district (81.3%), with Kannur close behind (80.7%). The least poll percent was recorded in Pathanamthitta district with 68.2%. The poll percent of other districts are: Alappuzha – 79.1%, Ernakulam – 77.6%, Kasargod – 76.3%, Palakkad – 75.6%, Thrissur – 74.9%, Malappuram – 74.6%, Kottayam – 73.8%, Wayanad – 73.8%, Kollam – 72.8%, Idukki – 71.1% and Thiruvananthapuram – 68.3%. Most polling percent in a constituency was recorded in Kuttiadi in Kozhikode with 87.4% and the least was recorded in Thiruvananthapuram with 59.2%.
People from around 30 countries watched the voting live on internet as the polling procedures in 92 sensitive booths were webcast. This is the first time such a facility is introduced in Kerala. However, no untoward incidents have been reported from these booths.
The high voter turn-out in this election seems to be the result of the highly heated up campaign. However, both the UDF and the LDF claim it would get the benefit of the increased poll percent. UDF convener PP Thankachan claimed it would come to power with a good majority. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said that the election trend in the state reflected the people’s wish for a change in government. He added that the UDF would bag more than 100 seats.
The minor incidents of protest and skirmishes did not move to big law and order problems. Police had to fire to the sky to control the scuffle between the members of the CPI (M) and the Muslim League in Kozhikode. There are reports that UDF candidate AP Abdullakkutty was attacked by alleged LDF workers in Kannur. Voting was paused for about two hours in Pattambi as the symbols of the candidates were changed on the EVM. The UDF has demanded for a re-poll here. Alleged CPI (M) members attacked members of the Congress and the BJP in different places in Kunnamkulam constituency. In several places, voting was paused for about an hour as the voting machines did not work properly. In some places, the police had to lathicharge to disperse the members of the LDF and the UDF who were involved in scuffles.
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