‘Lotus’ in Cherthala a ‘press error’, says EC

Alappuzha: It was business as usual in Alappuzha and Mavelikkara constituencies.

According to the election commission, 79.59 per cent voters cast their ballot in Alappuzha until 6 pm and 73. 93 per cent in Mavelikkara.  

According to the election commission, 75.2 per cent voters cast their ballot in Alappuzha until 6 pm and 71.8 per cent in Mavelikkara.  

There were long queues at several polling stations mostly in the coastal areas from the morning, but no major incident of violence.

Isolated incidents of VVPAT malfunctioning was reported, but the issues were either rectified or the units replaced.

Many booths witnessed long queues even after the scheduled polling time. Polling continued till late evening.

S. Suhas, district electoral officer, denied claims of lotus symbol appearing when pressed the hand at a booth in Cherthala.

He said that it was 'press error' during the mock poll which rectified within an hour replacing the machine.

In the first hours, the polling was an average of 7.2 per cent in Alappuzha and 6.9 per cent in Mavelikara. Slowly, it gained momentum and reached 21 at 11 am.

Kayamkulam assembly segment recorded 18.9 per cent turnout at 11 am, which went up to  63.1 by 5 pm.

Aroor segment witnessed 22.3 per cent polling at 11 am and reached 68. 52 by 5 pm.

Kuttanad recorded 50.4 per cent at 1 pm to reach 74 per cent by 6 pm. It reached 79.5 per cent at 6 pm in Alappuzha assembly segment.

Mavelikara segment's turnout reached 23.36 per cent at 11 am, and at 5 pm it went up to 65.72.

Meanwhile, Kayamkulam recorded lower turnout at 63 while in Mavelikara it was 60 per cent in Chengannur.