As much as 72.2 per cent of the 26,99,984 electorate in the capital district exercised their right to franchise on Monday to elect 14 legislators to the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Braving the inclement weather and forecast of heavy rain, the 11-hour voting that began at 7 a.m. passed off without any untoward incidents.
While the previous night’s downpour threatened to have an impact on the voter turnout, the anxiety and concerns of the 135 candidates were put to rest soon enough, as the clouds stayed away until the polling ended at 6 p.m.
The inclement weather prevented the supporters of the candidates from arranging the tables for issuing slips at positions that were 100 metres away from the polling stations well in advance.
Cover from rain
In many areas, party workers could also be seen hanging festoons and posters even after polling commenced. Beach umbrellas and tarpaulin sheets were sought to provide cover from rain.
However, despite the efforts made to ensure that the voters reached the polling stations, the turnout in the urban region gave embarrassing moments to the candidates and their agents.
Long line up of voters was seen at booths in Nedumangad, Vamanapuram, Aruvikkara and Attingal from early morning and the momentum continued throughout.
In the coastal booths in Varkala and Chirayinkeezhu constituencies, the rush of voters was mostly post-noon.
At the St. Chrysostom’s GHS polling station in Nellimoodu in Neyyattinkara constituency, there was an early surge in polling percentage.
In the LMS LP School polling station in Parassala constituency, there was a minor tiff between booth workers of the UDF and the LDF.
The Government High School in Kandala, one of the booths in Kattakkada segment, witnessed an increase in turnout of voters in the afternoon. Close to evening, booth workers of various parties in Kazhakuttam were seen scrambling back and forth to ensure that all of the voters reach the polling station before 6 p.m.
The Governor P. Sathasivam led a host of VVIPS who exercised their right to franchise in various Assembly segments earlier in the day.
The polling booth with the highest number of voters (1,888) in the district was set up on the premises of the Manjampara Government Lower Primary School in Vattiyurkavu.
The 2,203 booths were managed by 9,692 polling officials. The 32 all-women booths in Kazhakuttam, Vattiyurkavu, Thiruvananthapuram and Nemom, 154 Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) system in Nemom and Vattiyurkavu, Braille ballot for the visually challenged, ramps and wheel chairs for the disabled were key features arranged to enhance the voter turnout.
Snags
Snags that cropped up in the EVM and VVPAT were resolved without much delay.
These included issues that were reported from booths in Sreevaraham and Balaramapuram.
Minor instances of clashes were reported in Poonthura and the adjoining areas, forcing security personnel to remain on their toes.
In Beemapally, some activists of the UDF and LDF were involved in an altercation over an allegation that UDF candidate V.S. Sivakumar was mocked at during the early hours of polling.
Incidents were reported from areas in the rural police limits including Veeranakavu, Parassala and Kattakada.
Of the 23,85,485-strong electorate, only 16,28,326 votes were polled in the 14 Assembly segments in the capital during the 2011 elections to the Assembly, with the polling percentage being 68.26.
The counting of votes will take place on Thrusday, May 19.
