KOCHI: All the 14 constituencies in Ernakulam district, spread across the high ranges to the coastal areas, witnessed 72.33 per cent of voting for the Assembly election held on Monday. Voting was peaceful with no major incidence of violence. Percentage wise, the highest voting was recorded at Kunnathunadu, while Ernakulam witnessed the lowest turnout. In 2011 elections, highest turnout was in Paravur, 83.96 per cent while Kochi had only 66.91 per cent.
Constituencies like Perumbavoor, Angamaly, Aluva, Paravur and Kunnathunadu which registered more than 80 per cent turnout in 2011 elections witnessed almost the same voting per centage. Though incessant rains that started on Sunday night brought much relief from the scorching summer heat, political parties were apprehensive that downpour might affect the turnout, especially in urban areas.
However, polling picked up considerably after the first hour when rain stopped. Voting started sharp at 7 am after the mock poll exercise in the presence of political parties' booth agents to ensure that the electronic voting machines were functional. In the smallest polling booth in the district, Ramanthuruth in Kochi constituency, 17 of the total 19 voters exercised their franchise. All voters in the island casted vote before 2.30 pm.
A few personnel of the Central Action Force were summoned around noon to the Madrasathul Mujahideen Oriental High School at Mattancherry after police sensed trouble following altercation between two groups. However, no untoward incident took place. The polling in this booth progressed slowly.
Long queue of voters including women and youngsters was seen at polling booths in the morning. Voters in the rural areas especially at the eastern parts of the district throng at the booths to exercise their franchise braving heavy rains in the morning. In some of the booths in high-profile constituency like Tripunithura, there was serpentine queue of women voters. In these booths, voters had to wait for long owing to the slow pace of polling.
The long queue of voters stretched outside the polling station compound at Thekkumbhagam LP School in Tripunithura and St. Antony's School, Chambakkara causing traffic congestion. District collector M.G Rajamanickam instructed Kanayannur tehsildar to visit polling booths in Ernakulam and Tripunithura where very slow pace of polling was reported. A report was submitted to the collector.
Technical snag in electronic voting machines and power failure due to rains also have slowed down polling in many places. The faulty machines were promptly replaced and polling continued unabated. Polling officer at Nedungapra St. Antony's LPS in Perumbavoor has been replaced due to health problems. The officer was admitted in hospital.
In certain booths, there were hundreds of voters in the queue when the polling time ended at 6 PM. Officials gave token to all those in the queue and permitted to cast vote. In booth no 75 at Kurumassery in Angamaly constituency, there were more than 500 people in the queue at 6 PM. Voters alleged inexperience of polling officials and frequent power failure which delayed the polling. Some voters fainted after standing for long time in the queue who were given medical assistance at the booth.
