According to early trends, voter turnout in Assam was recorded above 18 per cent in several constituencies during the first few hours of polling.
Representational Image (IANS)
Voting for Assembly elections in Kerala and Assam began on Thursday with moderate turnout reported in the initial hours, setting the stage for closely watched electoral contests in both states.
In Kerala, polling for the 140-seat Legislative Assembly also commenced at 7 am, with around 16 per cent of the 2.71 crore electorate casting their votes within the first two hours. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the election as decisive for the state’s future, emphasizing the need for continuity in governance to sustain development momentum.
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In Kerala, over 2.69 crore registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots, including 1.38 crore women and 1.31 crore men, along with 277 voters from the third gender category. The electorate also includes nearly 4.24 lakh first-time voters in the 18-19 age group, while more than 2 lakh voters are aged above 85.
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To facilitate the polling process, authorities have established 30,471 polling stations across the state. Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said that around 1.46 lakh trained polling personnel have been deployed to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of the elections.
Assam is witnessing a high-voltage electoral battle across all 126 Assembly constituencies, with the contest largely shaping up as a direct fight between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led opposition alliance.
According to early trends, voter turnout hovered above 18 per cent in several constituencies during the first few hours of polling. In Bongaigaon district, Abhayapuri recorded 18.75 per cent turnout, followed by Srijangram at 18.07 per cent and Bongaigaon constituency at 17.8 per cent.
In Upper Assam, Demow registered 18.28 per cent turnout, while Nazira recorded 18.24 per cent. Sivasagar reported slightly higher participation at 18.52 per cent in the early phase.
Polling is underway across 31,490 polling stations spread over 35 districts, with officials expecting turnout to rise steadily as the day progresses.
The ruling BJP, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is seeking a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to return to power after its 2016 defeat.
A total of 722 candidates are contesting the elections. Key contenders include Gaurav Gogoi, Debabrata Saikia, Badruddin Ajmal, Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
The electorate comprises nearly 2.50 crore voters, including around 1.25 crore women and 318 voters from the third gender category.
Counting of votes for both states is scheduled for May 4.
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