Chengannur bypoll: Rain fails to dampen voter spirit

ALAPPUZHA: Chengannur voters braved heavy rain to turn up in large numbers to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of the candidates who had been queuing up before them for over two months. The polling passed off peacefully despite the storm the Opposition parties  kicked up in the neighbouring district over the honour killing of a youth and the alleged police lapses over it. The young and old voters  stood in long queues right from the morning,  and by 5 p.m. the voting percentage had crossed the 2016 percentage of   74.36,  indicating the close  fight waged by the three fronts.   All the candidates claimed that the   increase in the voting percentage  would go in their favour. 

“I came here only to cast  my vote. I am not bothered by the rain as I am proud of using my democratic right,” said Baby Sunil of  Indian Navy, who stood in the queue at a booth at Chennithala government school.    The elderly people were given special care by volunteers deployed in the booths. Model booths and women-friendly polling centres had been set up this time.    As the news of locating Kevin’s body was flashed across TV channels with the Opposition trying to cash in on the tragic event  by blaming the Pinarayi government, the TV  cables were snapped at several places by anti-social elements. This deprived a large section of Chengannur voters from following the events. It remains to be seen whether the event  will reflect in the voting pattern.   

Polling was delayed  for  some time at  Kallisserry, Budhanoor, Thriperumthura, Thiruvanvandoor and Eramallikkara due to  technical snags in the electronic voting machines (EVM). The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine was replaced at Vemnony polling station.  A minor altercation erupted between CPM and BJP workers at Pandavanpara polling booth.  They were  dispersed by the security personnel. LDF candidate Saji Cherian  voted  at number 77 booth at SNDP HSS, Kozhuvalloor, and  UDF candidate D. Vijayakumar at number 97 booth at Government HSS, Puliyoor. NDA candidate P.S. Sreedharan Pillai did not have vote in the constituency since he is settled in Kozhikode. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala  voted  at number 130 booth at UP School,  Thriperumthura.    The counting of votes will take place on May 31.