Kerala votes with enthusiasm; polling crosses 77 per cent

Kerala recorded a high voter turnout in the assembly elections with the polling percentages showing strong civic engagement. The latest figures show the overall voter turnout in Kerala at 77.62 per cent.

As voters are queuing up in many polling booths even after 7 pm, it is expected that the voter turnout in Kerala will be more than 80%. As of 5 pm on Thursday, the voter turnout reached 75.01%. According to current figures, the highest voter turnout is in Ernakulam district, which recorded 79.37 percent. There was a heavy rush at polling booths across the state since morning, regardless of urban or rural areas.

Advertisement

CPM State Secretary MV Govindan suggested that the high turnout favors the LDF, while Congress leader AK Antony predicted a “sunset” for the current government by the end of the day. He said the UDF will have a historic victory in the assembly elections.

Former KPCC president K Sudhakaran has said that the UDF will get up to 100 seats in the assembly elections. He said that the LDF would not be allowed to continue in power and that he is 100 percent sure that the UDF will come to power. K Sudhakaran was speaking to the media after casting his vote in a polling booth in Kannur.

The BJP-led NDA is pinning hopes on the high turnout. The NDA claims that there will be big surprises when the election results are announced on May 4. “There will be a hung assembly in the state and the BJP will be a decisive force,” said BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
Meanwhile, allegations of fake voting have been reported from some polling places. Complaints of fake voting have been raised in Manjeswaram, Palakkad, Vadakkanchery, Shoranur, Ottapalam and Tripunithura.

In a tragic incident, 63-year-old Vinod collapsed and died immediately after casting his vote in Vaniyampara, Thrissur.