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HIGHLIGHTS | Voting concludes as Kerala records 74.02 per cent turnout

Over 73% of the electorate in Kerala had cast their votes by 7 pm in the Assembly election being held on Tuesday.
Voters turned up in good numbers to exercise their franchise at Sasthamangalam. (Photo | Vincent Pulickal, EPS)
Voters turned up in good numbers to exercise their franchise at Sasthamangalam. (Photo | Vincent Pulickal, EPS)
Online Desk

Over 74% of the electorate in Kerala had cast their votes by 7 pm in the Assembly election being held on Tuesday.

The voting held in a single phase has seen the state make its choice between three alliances -- the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF), and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Keeping the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in mind, thermal scanners and sanitisers were in place outside polling stations. People were asked to maintain social distance and wear masks.

Among the early voters wereChief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who cast his vote in Pinarayi of Kannur. The leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala cast his vote in Alappuzha's Harippad.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Palakkad Assembly constituency, 'Metroman' E Sreedharan cast his vote at a polling booth in Ponnani.

Term of Pinarayi Vijayan-led govt will end on May 2: Senior Congress leader A K Antony

Senior Congress leader A K Antony on Tuesday said the term of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government will end on May 2 when the election results will be announced. Speaking to reporters here, he said those who dreamt of retaining power in the state will be shocked to see the outcome of today's poll.

Kerala Law Minister AK Balan files complaints with EC against LoP, NSS chief

Kerala Law Minister AK Balan on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and Nair Service Society chief G Sukumaran Nair for 'misusing the traditions and names of Gods in an unprecedented manner' on polling day. The Sabarimala women's entry issue, one of the major poll planks of the opposition UDF and the NDA against the ruling LDF during campaigning, took centre stage even on Tuesday.

On election day, BJP and Congress leaders raise Sabarimala in bid to pin down Kerala CM

On election day, top leaders of all the three major fronts harped on Sabarimala in an attempt to influence the public one final time. (READ MORE)

Kerala polling per cent update

Nearly 70 per cent of voters have exercised their franchise in Kerala

Mollywood actor Tovino Thomas poses for a photo after casting his vote

Mollywood actor Tovino Thomas (Photo | EPS)
Mollywood actor Tovino Thomas (Photo | EPS)

Heavy rains affect voting

Heavy rains significantly affect voting in Thiruvalla and Chengannur.

Polling official in Agali suffers spinal injury

Polling official Vidya Lakshmi, 31, who was deputed for duty at the government vocational HSS in Agali suffered a spinal injury when she slipped and fell from a height while going to the washroom.

LDF, UDF both claim support of Lord Ayyappa as Kerala sees 55 per cent polling by 3 pm

Over 55% of the electorate in the state had cast their votes by 3 pm in the Assembly election and the byelection to Malappuram Lok Sabha seat, being held on Tuesday. (READ MORE)

Kerala Assembly election: EVM glitches, violence and much more

Kerala records 52.41 per cent polling by 2 pm

Brisk polling was witnessed in various places in Kerala on Tuesday with 52.41 percent of 2.74 crore electorate having already cast their vote by noon in the assembly elections being held under the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic.

Two senior citizens dead

A 60-year-old man collapsed to death during an LDF-UDF clash at Pathiyankara near Haripad. Sharngadharan of Meenatheril, ward 7, Thrikunnapuzha near Harippad in Alappuzha, died. Police said he collapsed when LDF activists attacked the house of a Congress activist near his house. The body was shifted to Alappuzha Medical College.

Karthiyayani, 70, wife of Appukuttan collapsed after casting her vote near the gate of the Vithunassery booth in Palakkad. She was rushed to the Nenmara hospital where she died after one and a half hours.

Bogus voting at Parassala constituency

Bogus voting at Parassala constituency. Two votes of voters above the age of 80, were found to be polled in postal ballot even though they did not apply for postal vote.

Voters at Government UPS Chanthavila near Kazhakkoottam in Thiruvananthapuram

Voters turn out in Ernakulam

Kerala poll per cent update

Kozhikode: 56 % at 2.17 PM

Wayanad: 52 % at 2 PM

Kollam: 52.13% at 2.10 PM

When the turnout is high, the UDF will prevail: Shashi Tharoor

The turnout has been pretty high, which is unusual for Kerala. As a general rule, when the turnout is high, the UDF will prevail: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

This poll is going to create a sort of milestone in political history of Kerala: Union Minister V Muraleedharan

Scuffle breaks out between UDF workers and CPM workers at Kadamberi

A scuffle broke out between CPM workers and UDF workers at Kadamberi. UDF alleged that the CPM workers had pushed party candidate Abdul Rasheed and blocked his way when he tried to enter booth number 117 at Kadamberi on hearing about widespread bogus voting in the booth by the CPM workers. Following which the UDF workers intervened which led to a scuffle between the two parties. The police separated the two parties to avoid any untoward incident.

Central Kerala districts register over 40 per cent polling at 1 pm

Nearly six hours into polling, people are coming out in large numbers in Thrissur, Palakkad, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts. All these districts in central Kerala have registered over 40 per cent polling by 12.30 pm. At a polling booth in Kochi where actor Mammootty came to cast his vote, heated arguments took place between fans of the actor and a few voters after large number of fans crowded at the entrance of the booth to catch a glimpse of the actor.

Hotels, eateries shut across Kerala on election day

A large number of hotels and shops remained closed in the district on election day. Low turnout due to the election holiday and the government's direction to allow all employees to cast their vote were the reasons, said owners.
(READ FULL STORY HERE)

CPM workers thrash presiding officer at Kerala polling booth near Payyannur

The incident took place when Ashraf stopped a voter who reached booth number 105 A (Kandankali School) with a ration card. This lead to an argument between Ashraf and the CPM workers present there. Later, irate party workers thrashed Ashraf.
(READ FULL STORY HERE)

Making the vote count!

Gurneet Singh Kohli native of Gujarat showing his inked finger with his mother Sarabjit Kaur after casting their vote in the Kerala assembly elections at CKC LP School, Ponnurunni.
(Photo | A Sanesh, EPS)

'Fish sales first, vote later'

Mary Joseph of Valiyathura, a coastal region in T'puram, has not voted yet. She said she can go only in the afternoon after the sales. As the fisher women in Thiruvananthapuram are actively involved in fish sales, the voter turn around in the coastal locations are expected to see a surge in the latter half of the poll day. (Photo | Express)

Incidents of EVM malfunction reported in few Kerala constituencies

  • EVM malfunctioning disrupted polling in many booths, for a brief time, in multiple constituencies of Kerala

  • While polling began late in some of these booths, voting halted in other stations till new machines were brought in

  • Polling didn't begin at the scheduled time of 7.00 am in the booth at Poyya LP School in Thrissur following technical issues with EVM

  • Voting stopped at a polling station in Kattachakonam GHS in Kazhakuttom constituency for a brief period due to a technical snag

  • Similarly, voting was affected at Neeramankara Women's Polytechnic College in Nemom Constituency in Thiruvananthapuram

  • Polling booth number 15 and 15-A of government BTS LP school, Edappally, also witnessed disruption for the two hours due to technical problems

    • (Inputs from ENS)

    Mammooty votes!

    WATCH | Voters all masked up to cast their votes in Kerala

    LDF will win with over 100 seats in this election: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

    CPM politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was speaking to reporters after casting his vote at Kodiyeri Junior Basic School on Wednesday in Kodiyeri. He said "the LDF has a clear edge in all the districts in the state."
    (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Voting day: Kerala leaders up the ante

    Kerala records 14.87 per cent voter turnout till 9.40 am

    People waiting to cast their vote at Student. Aylosius L P school Mampally near Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram. (Photo | BP Deepu, EPS)

    UDF booth agent in Trikaripur assaulted, candidate calls for re-election

    The Congress-led UDF on Wednesday demanded the election be stopped in Pilicode panchayat in Trikaripur constituency after a UDF booth agent was allegedly assaulted by CPM workers. The CPM has denied the charge.
    (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    LDF will register a historic victory, says Pinarayi Vijayan after casting his vote

    The people of Kerala will gift a historical win for the LDF government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after casting his vote.
    (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Ramesh Chennithala casts his vote

    Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala casting vote at Mannarasala UPS Booth in Harippad Assembly Constituency (Photo | Express)

    What's at stake in Kerala?

    Early voter turnout from few Kerala constituencies

    Now, it's time for voters in Kerala to 'press the button'

    WATCH | Morning voters spotted in Kochi

    UDF well wishers send 'Best Wishes' messages on polling day

    Polling begins across 40,771 booths in Kerala

    Here is a look at a few Covid-19 measures taken in the poll-bound state for a 'safe' election:

  • Polling will be held from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm

  • Body temperature of voters would be checked before entering the booth

  • Masks or face shields are mandatory for voters entering the booth

  • Covid-19 patients will be allowed to cast their votes in the last hour of polling while wearing a PPEs

    • (Inputs from ENS)

    'Metro Man' E Sreedharan casts vote at a polling booth in Ponnan

    Metro Man' E Sreedharan, seen outside the polling booth after casting his vote, said that "BJP will have an impressive show this time, there's no doubt about it. I will win from the Palakkad constituency with a big margin. My entry into BJP has given a different image to the party."

    Voting begins for 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly

    (Photo | BP Deepu, EPS)

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    NDA
    Pinarayi Vijayan
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    Kerala Assembly elections 2021
    Kerala Elections 2021
    Kerala Polls 2021
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