Kerala came out to vote on Tuesday to elect their representatives from 227 candidates. Over 73% of the 2.62 crore who were eligible to vote exercised their franchise.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy cast his vote at his hometown Puthupally in Kottayam and promptly expressed his optimism that his party and front will come out on top. "The United Democratic Front (UDF) will do very well as this time it's going to be a 'vote against Modi in the Centre and against Vijayan in the state'," he said.
Mocking Chandy's forecasts, CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, "His predictions in earlier elections have all fallen flat. Just wait and watch, the Left will better its 2014 performance in the state."
Voters complained of EVM glitches in several polling booths. However, Kerala's chief electoral officer Teeka Ram Meena clarified that he had already informed everyone that if it rained a night before voting, the machines might take a while to be ready due to the humidity.
"This is not a statewide problem, but happened only at a few places. The glitches have been rectified," Meena said.
UDF workers alleged that the LED lamp of the BJP symbol flashed when someone voted for the Congress's hand symbol at a booth near Chowara in Kovalam.
The EVM was replaced following the complaint. The district collector later said it was impossible to tamper with an EVM in such a way.
A police case was registered against a voter in Thiruvananthapuram who failed to prove his allegation that the EVM where he cast his franchise had registered a vote for another party.
The Congress also alleged that BJP workers were attempting to canvass inside a polling booth in Thiruvananthapuram, where Shashi Tharoor is seeking re-election for a third term.
Meanwhile, nine senior citizens died at different polling booths in the state while waiting to cast their vote.
The ruling Left front and main opposition UDF, engaged in a fierce battle, are determined to make it big, while the NDA, riding on the Sabarimala wave, is keen to alter the state’s bi-polar trend.
At least a couple of constituencies are witnessing tough three-cornered fights, with the BJP raising a formidable challenge and giving the NDA the hope of winning a seat in the state for the first time.
(with agency inputs)
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A small snake was found inside a VVPAT machine in a booth at Mayyil Kandakkai in the constitutency, which is witnessing heavy polling, triggering panic among officials and voters.
EVMs across India malfunctioning or voting for the BJP. DMs say poll officials untrained to operate EVMs. 350+ being replaced. This is criminal negligence for a polling exercise that costs 50,000 crs.
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 23, 2019
Should we believe DMs @ECISVEEP, or is something far more sinister afoot? pic.twitter.com/eGsGUUBWai
A man who came for voting, collapsed and died at Kilikollur LP School in Eravipuram constituency. Mani, 63, of Parvathy Mandiram, whose name was not mentioned in the voeter's list, collapsed while arguing with the poll officer.
Thiruvananthapuram District Collector K Vasuki said a complaint was registered from Chowara, Kovalam polling booth regarding a technical error in the EVM that votes were being cast for the BJP although the button was pressed for the Congress candidate.
The allegation that votes were being cast for a particular party alone is 'technically and technologically impossible' as it is not possible to tamper an EVM in such a way, said Vasuki.
Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi is in the fray, records 21.4 per cent.
A 64-year-old lady, who came to cast her vote, collapsed and died at Chokli Ramavilasam School in Vadakara.
Kerala: Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram candidate Shashi Tharoor casts his vote at a polling booth in the city. He is up against BJP's Kummanam Rajasekaran and LDF’s C Divakaran. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/zJwnJ3nALC
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2019
Faulty EVM in a booth at Kovalam has been replaced and the voting process has resumed.
The UDF workers alleged that whenever someone voted for the hand symbol of Congress candidate, LED lamp of BJP's lotus symbol flashed at the booth no 151 set up at the Madhava Vilasam School, near Chowara, in Kovalam.
"Rahul Gandhi's presence in Wayanad has come as an advantage for the UDF in all 20 constituencies and we are expecting a majority this time," Chandy said. He also slammed the Election Commission based on the complaints raised regarding the faulty EVM's at various booth.
"The election fight in the state is between LDF and UDF. The BJP will be be at the third position at all the constituencies in the state. The over-ambitions of many in Kerala will come to an end with this elections" Pinrayi Vijayan.
Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to cast his vote at polling booth in Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ranip, Ahmedabad; BJP President Amit Shah also present pic.twitter.com/wu3Y5EopRF
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2019
There are reports of widespread malfunction of electronic voting machines in various constituencies of the state. As many as 20 EVMs were malfunctioned in Kasaragod, while five machines developed technical glitches in Kayankulam.
Many polling stations inThrissur are facing power supply shortage following the heavy rain and lightening which took last night.
The ruling Left front and main opposition UDF, engaged in a fierce battle, are determined to make it big, while the NDA, riding on the Sabarimala wave, is keen to alter the state’s bi-polar trend.
At least a couple of constituencies are witnessing tough three-cornered fights, with the BJP raising a formidable challenge and giving the NDA the hope of winning a seat in the state for the first time.
The pollscape in Kerala has evoked national attention, thanks to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad and the Sabarimala issue.
Kerala: CM P. Vijayan queues up to casts his vote at polling booth in RC Amala Basic UP School in Pinarayi in Kannur district. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/LLydBK4FcN
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2019
Voting is yet to begin at several polling station in the state because of faulty EVMs.
The state capital where diplomat-turned-politician Shashi Tharoor seeks a third term against BJP’s Kummanam Rajasekharan and CPI strongman C Divakaran, is all set for a photo finish. With Sabarimala chorusing all through the campaigning with both covert and overt references, it is sure to be an extremely tight contest.
The state registered 66.57 per cent voter turnout till 5pm.
Wayanad recorded the highest voting at 72.5 per cent.
Around nine have people collapsed to death during the ongoing polls in Kerala on Tuesday. Two polling officers also collapsed while on duty and have been shifted to hospital.
Heavy rain in many parts of Wayanad have slowed the voting process. Currently polling percentage stands at 67.35.
Balan, 64, from Adivasi Colony in Wayanad collapsed on his way to the polling booth. 74-year-old Prabhakaran from Peringattampallil house at Mattam Vadakku near Mavelikkara, died after collapsing at a polling booth. Talipparamba native Venugopala Marar, collapsed while reaching his home after casting vote.
Toll rises to seven.
The voter was killed during a clash between Congress activists and Trinamool supporters.
50.92 per cent voting registered in Kerala till 2 pm.
51.9 polling recorded in Alappuzha.
#ElectionsWithTNIE | Former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan casts his vote at Paravoor HSS, Alappuzha.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 23, 2019
Video by @bechu_s .#LokSabhaElections2019 #Phase3 #VotingRound3
LIVE: https://t.co/hRBsMUm2uU pic.twitter.com/BbXaR9zeOv
Congres has filed complaint to Election Commissioner regarding open canvassing of votes inside the booth. KPCC secretary Manacadu Suresh while speaking to Express said, "there was open canvassing of votes and after we challenged this and lodged a complaint , police have prevented the BJP workers from further canvassing".
BJP workers openly canvassing votes inside polling booth in Booth No.126, Kuriathi Ward, Kuriathi School PS, Manacaud, Trivandrum Central. Police is not taking any action, alleges Shashi Tharoor camp,
⚡️ Keralites show much enthusiasm in polling in the #Phase3. Here's all you need to know as #KeralaVotes today! #ElectionsWithTNIE #LokSabhaElections2019 #VotingRound3
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 23, 2019
LIVE: https://t.co/hRBsMUm2uU https://t.co/oA6HjViWRv
Two more deaths were reported amid polling in the state. One of the deceased, Chacko Mathayi (Pappachan, 86) from Pezhumpara near Ranni, fainted while entering the booth.
While the other, Thressyakkutti Velutheppilli, 87, from Parappuram near Kanjoor, fainted in a booth near Kalady and died at a nearby private hospital.
