Vengara bypoll result to be out by 11 am

MALAPPURAM: The result of the Vengara Assembly bypoll will be declared on Sunday. The counting of votes will start at 8 am in PSMO College, Tirurangadi and the result will be known by 11 am. The official declaration of the result is expected to be made by 12 pm if there are no technical or untoward issues in counting. The counting will begin with postal votes, which will be accepted until 8 am.

The strong room of the counting station where the electronic voting machines were kept will open at 7.45 am in the presence of election observer Amit Choudhari, district collector Amit Meena and returning officer Sajeev Damodar. Fourteen tables were arranged for the counting and each will be managed by a supervisor, a micro observer and a counting assistant. Sixty-two officials were assigned for the counting. 

The polling was held across the 148 booths and 17 auxiliary polling stations on Wednesday with a record voter turnout of 72.12 per cent. 66,030 women and 56,550 male voters had casted vote in the bypoll. All the major contestants are confident of an increase in their vote share this time because of the highest voter turnout in Vengara segment. It seems the UDF which is sure about the win, is not much confident in keeping the earlier victory margin. According to sources in the UDF, the polling review by the front has estimated a majority of 30,000 votes which is a lowest figure in the history of the constituency.