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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
