Kochi: Many people reportedly left without voting due to the delay caused by the slow or faulty EVMs in the district, including the Ernakulam voter Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church.
He was the first voter to arrive at the St. Mary's Convent Girls Higher Secondary School at Kacherippady in Ernakulam. When he tried to cast his vote, the EVM turned defunct and the officials could not rectify the machine on time.
After waiting for nearly an hour, the cardinal left without casting his vote as he had to take a flight to Madhya Pradesh to attend the funeral rites of Bishop Abraham Mattom, who passed away last week.
The EVM had finally rectified around 9.30 am, officials said. Celebrities and politicians who are residents of Ernakulam cast their votes at different polling stations in the district.
Actor Mammootty cast his vote at booth number 105 in Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Panampilly Nagar.
UDF candidate Hibi Eden along with his wife Anna cast their vote at SNDP Hall, Mamangalam at 7 am. The opponent and LDF candidate P. Rajeev cast his vote at Ambedkar Centre in Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) along with his wife. Benny Behanan, the UDF candidate for Chalakkudy, voted at Bharata Matha College, Thrikkakkara.
K.S. Radhakrishnan, the BJP candidate of Alappuzha, cast his vote at Chernalloor Panchayath Community Hall along with his wife and daughter.
BJP candidate of Chalakkudy A.N. Radhakrishnan cast his vote at Al-Farookhia Higher Secondary School, Cheranalloor.
