THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After nearly a month of intense campaigning, voters across the state turned out in large numbers on Thursday, braving sweltering heat, to exercise their franchise. Polling touched 78.24% by 10 pm, surpassing the 74.06% recorded in the 2021 Assembly elections, with the final figure likely to cross 80%.Polling exceeded 80% in several constituencies. Chittur recorded the highest turnout at 84.63%, followed by Kunnamangalam (84.46%) and Kunnathunadu (84%), while Ranni saw the lowest turnout at 68.99%. Though voting officially ended at 6 pm, long queues were seen at many booths well beyond the stipulated time.By 1 pm, nearly 49% of the electorate had voted, reflecting strong early momentum. While polling was slow in some booths during the initial hour, it picked up after 8 am and continued steadily through the day.The state had registered 80.54% polling in 1987 polls. The highest-ever turnout recorded during assembly elections was 85.72% in 1960, according to PIB data.While LDF asserted that it would retain power and UDF predicted a wave in its favour, BJP predicted a hung assembly.Chief electoral officer Rathan U Kelkar said the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had an impact, but polling remained largely smooth and peaceful. A significant number of first-time voters participated, he said.Among prominent early voters were chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader VD Satheesan, KPCC president Sunny Joseph and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Asif Ali were among those who cast their votes.Vijayan expressed confidence in the LDF retaining power. “False propaganda cannot defeat the LDF. We trust the people, and the people trust us. Our journey with them over the past ten years will continue,” he said after voting in Kannur. Satheesan claimed UDF would cross 100 seats. “There is a clear wave in favor of change,” he said after voting at Paravur Kesari College. Chandrasekhar predicted a hung verdict, asserting that the BJP would emerge as a decisive force. “The vision of a developed Kerala has resonated with the people,” he said after casting his vote in Vattiyoorkavu.Polling was largely peaceful, though a few incidents were reported. In Uduma, police detained election agent of a UDF candidate for allegedly using spectacles fitted with a hidden camera inside a polling booth.In Manjeswaram, polling was briefly halted at Badaje Govt LP School following a mismatch between votes cast and the machine count. At Pilicode in Thrikkaripur, UDF candidate Sandeep Warrier alleged bogus voting and assault on an agent, while the LDF accused him of threatening officials.In Payyannur constituency, UDFbacked independent candidate V Kunhikrishnan alleged that CPM workers indulged in widespread bogus voting in areas like Karivellur, Vellur, Karamel and Ettukudukka. In Cherthala, UDF lodged a complaint against a presiding officer allowing two men to cast votes on behalf of their expatriate sons.In Kannur, a Congress worker was detained for allegedly stabbing a CPM activist in Mayyil.In Thiruvananthapuram, Gen Z voters were greeted with halwa boxes and thank-you cards as part of outreach efforts, with CEO interacting with young voters at a Kowdiar booth. In Thrissur, a voter collapsed and died shortly after casting his vote in Vaniyampara. He was rushed to hospital but declared dead.
