THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-awaited byelection to the Attipra ward of the City Corporation marked a polling percentage of 67.5, with 3,469 out of the 5,139 eligible voters exercising their franchise on Thursday. Compared to the previous election held in 2010, the polling percentage - which had been 62.21 then - saw a significant increase this time.
The participation of women voters was more than that of men - the figures being 1,864 and 1,605 respectively.
Though all five booths had been designated as sensitive, no untoward incident was reported on the polling day. Police personnel in large numbers were deployed at the booths.
Candidates of LDF, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party cast their votes by morning itself; LDF’s Sobha Sivadath voted at Atmabodhini Grandhasala, BJP’s R O Yamuna at the Village Office and AAP’s Subhakumari at the Kerala University Campus Association Nursery School in Kariavattom. UDF’s C Sreekala did not vote as she belongs to the nearby Sreekariyam ward.
People started streaming in by 7 am itself at the booths. Even elderly men and women and mothers carrying infants could be seen in the long queues in front of each polling station. As per the official statistics, the polling percentage touched 13.54 by 9 am and rose to 52.46 by 2 pm.
The booth near Kariavattom University Campus, which was quite far from the other booths, registered the least attendance with 65.20 per cent of the voters exercising their franchise. Polling percentage at Village Office booth was 68.3, at Government Kaattil School (South section) 65.89, (North section) 79.96 and at Atmabodhini Grandhasala 69.11.
Counting of votes is scheduled to take place on Friday.