70.9% voter turnout in first phase; highest in Ernakulam (74.58%), lowest in Thiruvananthapuram (67.4%)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first phase of the local body elections in seven districts of Kerala recorded a good polling percentage of 70.9%. However, this is lower than the 73.79% recorded in the 2020 elections. Enthusiastic campaigning and controversies had added heat to this year's polls.

Voting was held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Idukki districts. Ernakulam recorded the highest polling at 74.58%, while Thiruvananthapuram saw the lowest at 67.4%. 71.6% of male voters, 70.28% of female voters, and 40.45% of transgender voters cast their votes. Out of a total of 1.32 crore eligible voters, 94 lakh had voted by 8 PM, with the final turnout likely to change slightly.

Except for a few minor incidents, voting was peaceful overall. Even after the 6 PM deadline, long queues were seen in many booths. Voting continued until 7 PM to allow everyone in line to vote.

The State Election Commissioner A Shajahan announced that polling in three wards was postponed due to the death of candidates. These wards are Payimbadam in Moothadam panchayat (Malappuram), Onakkoor in Pampakuda panchayat (Ernakulam), and Vizhinjam ward in Thiruvananthapuram corporation.

Tomorrow, polling will take place in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod. Campaigning ended yesterday and today is a silent campaign day. Counting for both phases will be held on the 13th.

Clashes over bogus voting

In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s Vanchiyoor ward, a clash broke out over allegations of bogus voting. In Kochi, tensions rose after Twenty20 leader Sabu George spoke to reporters without permission. In Alappuzha’s Mananchery Ambalakkad ward, polling could not be completed due to an EVM malfunction. Repolling will be held tomorrow in this ward, as well as in Aryad ward of the district panchayat and the Mananchery ward of the Aryad block panchayat.

Polling percentages in Corporations (2020 percentages in brackets)

Thiruvananthapuram – 58.24% (59.96)

Kollam – 63.32% (66.22)

Kochi – 62.52% (62.04)

Polling percentages in districts (2020 percentages in brackets)

Thiruvananthapuram – 67.4% (70.02)

Kollam – 70.36% (73.51)

Pathanamthitta – 66.78% (69.72)

Alappuzha – 73.76% (77.39)

Kottayam – 70.94% (73.95)

Idukki – 71.77% (74.68)

Ernakulam – 74.58% (77.28)

Pre-poll survey post: Action possible

Even though former DGP and BJP candidate R Sreelekha deleted her Facebook post sharing a pre-poll survey result, action against her is still possible. She is contesting from the Sasthamangalam ward. She removed the post after Cyber Cell intervention. Since it was deleted within three hours, immediate action may not follow, but if any voter from the ward files a complaint in court, legal action could proceed.

The survey she shared was by the CVoter agency, which claimed that the NDA was leading in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. UDF candidate S. Saralarani’s polling agent, Vivek Vijayakumar, filed a complaint with the Election Commission and the Model Code of Conduct Committee. The Election Commission had earlier said that action would be taken. Sreelekha deleted the post after the Cyber Police reported the matter.