67.66 pc recorded in corporation as against 70.39 pc in 2010 elections
Kochi Corporation 67th ward candidates Khairunnisa, Sonia Jose, Gracy Babu Jacob and Fenisha Philomena Roy in a jovial mood outside the polling station in Kochi on Tuesday. (Photo: DC)
Kochi: The electoral fate of 403 candidates contesting to the Kochi Corporation council was sealed on Thursday with polling concluding in 74 divisions within the city limits. Although candidates of all political parties were worried in the morning over poor turnout the scenario changed later in the day with more people turning up to cast their votes.
The polling which was hovering around 51.66 per cent in the afternoon went up to 67.73 per cent by late evening. The total turnout in the 2010 election was 67.7 per cent.
Adverse weather is cited as a major reason for the poor voting per cent. Several voters, who did turn up to vote, complained that their names did not figure on the voting lists despite having voted in previous elections. Even celebrities like Mammootty and his son Dulqur Salman could not cast their votes as their names were not in the list.
In the morning, polling started at a very slow pace with most of the voters staying indoors until noon due to the heavy downpour.
Voting picked up momentum by afternoon when the rain receded. In a booth at Kendriya Vidyalaya Kataribag near Naval Base, the polling process could not start as the area was flooded.
Later, the booth was shifted to an adjacent place. Water logging also affected voting in Karanakodam and Karithala.
Crucial divisions where key candidates of both fronts are contesting like Giri Nagar, Ravipuram, Elamkulam, Ernakulam North, Gandhi Nagar, Cheralayi, Nazareth, Ernakulam North, Ernakulam Central, Kathrikadavu and Kaloor South registered an average turnout.
Sporadic instances of bogus voting were reported from city divisions. When Mani, a Tamil labourer came to cast his vote at Kataribag booth, the polling officer informed him that his vote has already been cast by a woman. Polling was delayed in certain booths due to technical snags in voting machines.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
