Kerala Votes In Record Numbers: Final Poll Percentage Expected To Cross 80 pc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala saw heavy polling in the assembly elections, with rival parties already trading claims and counterclaims about the results.

By 7.30 pm, voter turnout stood at 77.62 per cent, but sources suggested it could hit 80 per cent as many people were still queued up inside polling stations. Voters were given tokens and allowed into the premises, and among those waiting to cast their ballots were a significant number of women.

In the 2021 assembly elections, 2.09 crore voters (76.01 percent) cast their ballots, but this time the turnout is expected to be even higher. Kerala’s total electorate is 2,71,42,952, including 1,39,21,868 women, 1,32,20,811 men, and 273 third-gender voters.

Kerala has crossed the 80 per cent polling mark only twice in the past—the highest was in 1960 at 85.72 per cent, followed by 80.54 per cent in 1987.

Chief Electoral Officer Rattan Kelkar expects the final poll percentage this time to cross 80 per cent, crediting the record turnout to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

From early morning, long queues formed outside polling stations, as men, women, and the elderly chose to vote early to avoid the midday heat.

This trend was seen across both urban and rural areas, and if it continues, the turnout is expected to cross 80 per cent. All 140 assembly constituencies reported moderate to heavy polling, with political parties making bold assertions.

Minor incidents

Aside from a few minor incidents of violence and political clashes, polling in Kerala went smoothly on Thursday. Scattered reports emerged of bogus voting allegations, impersonation, small scuffles, and technical issues at various polling stations. In Punalur, LDF and UDF workers got into a clash near the LP School booth over claims they were prevented from casting their votes.

UDF booth agent Jamal was stopped from entering the booth in Adoor for wearing smart glasses with a camera and Bluetooth.

A minor clash erupted between Congress and BJP activists in Manalur, while tensions rose in Kasargod after NDA candidate Ravi Kulangara was allegedly prevented from voting by CPM workers. Skirmishes between rival party workers were also reported in Adoor, Palakkad, Ottapalam, Shoranur, and Kuttiadi. Allegations of bogus voting surfaced in Ayanjeri, part of the Kuttiadi constituency.

There were reports from Kannur that the ruling LDF supportrs were not allowing the UDF and NDA workers to come out of the polling stations at some places, after the closure of voting at 6 pm.

Political reactions

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, contesting from the Dharmadom constituency in Kannur district, expressed confidence that the LDF would return to power with a bigger margin than in 2021. “We have taken significant steps toward building a developed Kerala and achieved progress across various sectors. That momentum must continue. People generally don’t want any disruption to development and progress,” he told reporters after casting his vote at RC Amala LP School in Pinarayi.

When asked about Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Pinarayi said the “dash” in his earlier “dash mon” remark was for people to interpret as they wished. He claimed Reddy was the only chief minister to have been arrested in a corruption case and added that he would speak more on the matter after the polls.

Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan voiced confidence that the UDF would return to power with more than 100 seats. “I’ve travelled across Kerala four times in the past three months, and only after carefully gauging public sentiment am I saying we’ll win over 100 seats,” he told reporters after casting his vote at Kesari Balakrishna Memorial Government College.

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal said the high voter turnout signaled the end of Pinarayi’s decade-long rule. “Our victory is certain. The UDF will free the people from LDF’s 10 years of tyranny,” he said, accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of trying to secure continued power through a deal with the BJP and other communal groups.

BJP state president and Nemom candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar predicted that neither the LDF nor the UDF would secure a clear mandate, leading to a hung assembly where the BJP could play a decisive role.

Former Chief Minister A.K. Antony claimed the Pinarayi government would fall by 6 pm on Thursday, paving the way for caretaker rule, with the UDF taking power on May 4.

In the midst of this unpredictable political climate, Vellappally Natesan expressed his personal wish for Pinarayi Vijayan to return to power, while noting that the NDA is likely to increase its vote share. Natesan is the general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, the organisation of dominant OBC Ezhahva community.

Mammootty, Mohanlal take part in festival of democracy

Celebrities cast their votes as Mammootty arrived from Chennai to exercise his franchise in Kochi. He voted at CKCGHS polling booth in Ponnurunni, under the Thrikkakkara constituency. Dressed in a black shirt, the actor was accompanied by his wife Sulfath and fellow actor Sohan Seenulal. “Opportunities to vote come only once every five years. I urge everyone to come out and vote. Everyone should participate in the democratic process,” he said.

Superstar Mohanlal arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to cast his vote before heading to the US. He voted at Booth 36 in Mudavanmugal School, Nemom constituency, and shared a photo of the moment on his social media. "I have done my duty. Now it's your turn. Kerala, go vote," he wrote on Facebook.

Actor and Union Minister Suresh Gopi voted at Guruvayur Devaswom English Medium School, while Aju Varghese cast his vote in Kalamassery. Actor Prithviraj and his wife Supriya voted at Thevara Government Fisheries School in Kochi, along with Fahadh Faasil.