Over 75 percent turnout in peaceful poll in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Despite an initial surge, the voter turnout in the Assembly polls on Monday reached only around 75 percent, almost equal to that in the previous Assembly polls (75. 12 percent).  The tentative  turnout published by the Election Commission  on Monday night was 74.12 percent. The final figures may go up by two to four percent, registering only a marginal increase compared to   2011.   The  turnout during the 2006 Assembly poll was 72.27 percent.

This time the rain  seemed to have played spoilsport.   With the heavy deployment of about 60,000 police personnel  and electronic surveillance, the polls went off  peacefully. No instances of polling being disrupted were reported and no demands for re-polling were made.

Voting per cent goes up in Thiruvananthapuram, Nemom, Kovalam

Thiruvananthapuram: Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram and Kovalam recorded  higher turnout compared to the previous elections prompting the  political parties to claim that  the people had voted for  a change of government  in the state. The overall  voting percentage  in Nemom was 74.54, Thiruvananthapuram 64.88 and Kovalam 70.8   as against 67.49,  67.88   and 67.91 respectively during the last Assembly elections.

Read: Slow polling rate at women-friendly booths in Kerala

In  Nemom,   cadres  of both the CPM and the BJP voted  in the morning. In spite of  the threat of  rain, voters thronged polling stations in Thiruvananthapuram and Nemom pushing the polling percentage to 34  by afternoon.  Voters had to wait even up to  two hours due to  the new VVPAT machines. Booths like Kamaleswaram and Pachalloor experienced high turnout.

“The queue at  Sreevarahom Mambazha school  under Thiruvananthapuram constituency was  unprecedented.  Who gained from such high voting percentage is difficult to predict,” said advocate Sreevarahom N.G. Mahesh.

Read: Kerala Assembly Elections: The day no one wanted to miss

In Kovalam, barring Adimalathura, all coastal wards recorded less turnout and the overall percentage  was 33  by 12 noon and it gradually rose. Booths at harbour wards and Vizhinjam saw only a small rush whereas the fringes of Vellayani and Kalliyoor performed better.

Mood on poll day

In  Nemom,  the BJP workers said there was a consolidation of voters against the party.  However, the hopes of  lotus blooming were  high as they had mobilised more votes compared to last elections. In Thiruvananthapuram constituency, the UDF  fears a setback due to anti-incumbency factor.

Read: Malabar sees peaceful polling

A day before polls, their candidate Mr  V.S.  Sivakumar was  ousted by angry localities at Valiyathura when he visited the areas affected by sea erosion on Sunday. On the other hand,  AIDMK candidate Biju Ramesh who visited the spot received a warm welcome.   All traditional LDF pockets in Thiruvananthapuram  such as Poonthura and Thiruvallam saw a massive show of strength by the cadres.