Cherthala Assembly constituency has set a new record for the highest turnout in Monday’s Assembly elections, registering 86.3 per cent. Kunnathunad in Ernakulam came second registering 85.63 per cent polling. The Thiruvananthapuram Assembly segment recorded the lowest at 65.19 per cent.
According to latest figures released by the Election Department on Tuesday, the State registered a turnout of 77.35 per cent, said to be the highest in all elections since 1987. In 2011, the polling percentage was 75.12 per cent.
Among districts, Kozhikode witnessed heavy polling at 81.89 per cent followed by Kannur at 80.63 per cent. The lowest was recorded by Pathanamthitta at 71.66 per cent. In 41 Assembly constituencies polling percentage was above 80 and 65 segments polled over 75 per cent. Only five constituencies polled below 70 per cent — Attingal (69.38), Vattiyurkavu (69.83), Thiruvalla (69.29), and Kaduthuruthy (69.39), and Thiruvananthapuram.
The following are the district-wise polling percentage: Kasargod 78.51, Kannur 80.63, Wayanad 78.22, Kozhikode 81.89, Malappuram 75.83, Palakkad 78.37, Thrissur 77.74, Ernakulam 79.77, Idukki 73.59, Kottayam 76.90, Pathanamthitta 71.66, Kollam 75.07, and Thiruvananthapuram 72.53.
Voter turnout was rather heavy in several acknowledged CPI(M) bastions such as Dharmadom (83.53), Uduma (80.16), Thrikkaripur (81.48), and Payyannur (81.77).
‘VIP constituencies’
Dharmadom was a VIP constituency with CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan contesting the seat. Another VIP seat, Malampuzha, where Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan sought yet another mandate for the fourth consecutive term, the polling percentage was impressive enough at 78.52. Puthupally, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s constituency, notched up 77.48 per cent, while Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala’s constituency registered 80.38 per cent. In Malappuram district, Vengara had the lowest turnout of just 70.77 per cent. Vengara was the centre of a political tremor in 2006 when IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty was defeated.
Reasons for low polling
The extended campaign period also contributed towards attracting voters to the booths. The reasons for low polling percentage in Thiruvananthapuram and Vattiyurkavu could be “floating voters” who would have gone to their native places taking advantage of the three consecutive holidays (second Saturday, Sunday and polling day holiday). In the case of Thiruvalla, Congress sources attribute the voter apathy to the problems in United Democratic Front over candidate selection. Kerala Congress (M) leader Joseph M. Puthussery ran into an early campaign trough when Congress leader P.J. Kurien opposed his nomination.
Mr. Puthessery is pitted against Mathew T. Thomas of the Janata Dal (Secular), who has his own special rating in the constituency.
Many of the Malabar constituencies outside Malappuram have large concentration of electorate belonging to the Muslim community. The 80-plus polling percentage in Beypore, Kunnamangalam, Koduvally and Kozhikode South, and Thiruvambady could be a result of the decisive manner in which the minority communities have exercised their franchise.
