Repolling has been ordered in three booths in the district even as brisk polling is going on in the election to the local bodies amidst reports of sporadic incidents in some parts.
Election authorities ordered repoll in two booths in ward 7 of the Pattuvam grama panchayat following complaints by the United Democratic Front (UDF) that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) snatched ballot papers in the booths. The repoll would take place on October 25. Repoll was also ordered in a booth in ward 36 of the Payyannur municipality when the electronic voting machine was allegedly destroyed. In another incident, the UDF had reportedly boycotted polling in ward 7 of Cheruthazham grama panchayat after complaining that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) workers cast bogus votes.
There were reports of cases of alleged clashes and intimidation of booth agents in some parts. According to reports, the district recorded an average 50 per cent polling by 2 p.m. In many places, large queues were seen in polling booths in the forenoon.
In another incident, a polling official on duty identified as Sadanandan (48) died at the polling booth at Sree Narayanam L.P. School in ward 56 at Madapathur here. He died after fainting at the booth just after the polling began. The polling continued in the booth.
UDF candidate in Temple Ward in the Kathirur panchayat Pothuvattil Sreedharan alleged that CPI(M) snatched voters’ lists from two UDF booth agents. The CPI(M) workers there said that the election in the polling station at the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Kathirur was peaceful. Large number of police personnel were deployed outside the polling station in view of the tension. Three people were injured in the clash between CPI(M) and Indian Union Muslim League workers at Thavam in Cherukunnu.
Union Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed cast his vote in a polling booth Salafi School here in the Kannur municipality in the morning. After voting, he told reporters that the UDF would show its best performance in the election. He said the people would also realise the ploy of organisations such as Social Democratic Party of India and the Jamat-e-Islami CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that the LDF would pull off its record victory in the local body election. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at the Junior Basic School at Cherikkal in Pinarayi panchayat, he said that the LDF had got upper hand in the campaign even in UDF strongholds.
