THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Polling percentage did not rise as expected even in the constituencies where a three-cornered fight took place. Polling percentage fell by 6 percent compared to 2019. All this has increased the heartbeats of all the three fronts.

The late-night estimates did not ease the anxieties. How this will affect the fronts' chances of victory will be computed until the votes are counted.

The polling in the state was 77.84 percent in the 2019 parliamentary elections. However, according to the figures obtained at 9 pm last night, the average turnout was only 71 percent this time. The polling started at 7 am and the long queues seen at the booths till 11 am excited the front workers. However, with the sun and heat being intense, the booths almost stood still in many places. The reason is that the elderly voters did not leave their homes. Later, the queues became heavy after four o'clock in the evening. Only Alappuzha and Kannur constituencies saw polling higher than 74 percent, even after 7 pm. However, the polling percentage increased continuously since morning in the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Alappuzha, and Thrissur.

Long queues of voters were seen even after 8 pm in many constituencies in central and northern Kerala. Many cast their votes waiting in queues for more than four hours. It is also reported that many elderly voters got tired of waiting and left.

There were complaints that the polling process was slow although there were no major malfunctions in the voting machines. It is also alleged that the Election Commission did not extend the time in the booths where the machines malfunctioned. The polling was expected to be as high as 80 percent in the election, which was a battle of survival for all three fronts. However, even in Vadakara, where there were many controversies and heated fights, the polling did not rise as expected.