Nearly 30 per cent of the electorate exercised their right to franchise for the local body polls in Aluva and Angamaly municipalities till 10 a.m. on Monday.
No untoward incident was reported from any parts of the two regions when this report was filed.
N. V. Sobhana, Returning Officer for Aluva, told The Hindu that the process has been progressing without any hiccups in the 25 booths in the municipality. Election to the ward no 1 was postponed after the death of C. V. Baby, Kerala Congress (M) candidate. Ms. Sobhana said that electronic voting machines were working properly and the election team led by her was visiting all the booths in the municipality.
Georgekutty, Returning Officer for Angamaly municipality, said that nearly 23 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise by 9 a.m. Out of this, 14 per cent was male voters while the female voters comprised the remaining nine per cent. He said that the total number of voters in the Angamaly municipality was around 26,544.
The polling began on a brisk note at the 30 booths in the Angamaly municipality at 7 a.m. Women and elderly were seen standing in long queues at booths in the Angamaly town area.
At the ward no 8 election booth at Jolly Nursery and Play school, a septagenarian was seeking the help of the presiding officer in using the electronic voting machine. Even though the polling agents wanted the presiding officer to personally assist the lady in casting the vote, the presiding officer refused but repeatedly tried to guide her from a distance. The election officer was relieved when she finally pressed her button making way for others standing in the long line to cast their votes.
Polling began on an enthusiastic note at ward 3 of the Angamaly municipality, which was held at the anganwadi in Kothankulangara west. Out of the total 853 voters, 204 had cast their votes by 9 a.m.Candidates of the United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front the ward no 5 were found hanging around anxiously near the Government LP School booth at Kothankulangara. Nearly 220 voters among the total 872 had exercised their franchise at this booth by 9.15 a.m.
V. P. George, Congress candidate and the opposition leader in the Aluva municipality, was found outside the palace ward 9 at Aluva. He said that the voter turnout will go up by afternoon. Around 165 votes were polled out of the total 636 at the booth here by 10 a.m. The voter turnout at the ward 10 of the municipality at the booth set up at the municipal library and reading room was low in the initial hours. Only 160 had cast their votes out of the total 636 here by 10 a.m.
Stating that the police has stepped up vigil at all sensitive regions under the Ernakulam rural area, T. Vikram, Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam Rural, said that strike forces and patrolling teams would keep a close watch on the entire area. He said that 320 booths have been identified as sensitive under the Ernakulam.
