Giving sufficient indications of a tough political battle, almost 75 per cent of the electorate of Kerala cast their votes in the 2011 Assembly election, polling for which was held on Wednesday.
Polling was by and large peaceful across the State and even Kannur, where 3,703 out of the 20,758 polling booths in the State had been identified as ‘sensitive' by the Election Commission, remained relatively calm throughout the day. There were some minor skirmishes and protests at some places, but these did not snowball into major law and order problems.
The heaviest polling was reported from Kannur and Kozhikode districts, the former recording 80.3 per cent and the latter 80.2, according to figures released by the Commission in the evening.
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The figures were likely to undergo only marginal changes, Commission officials said. The State had recorded 72.27 per cent polling in the 2006 Assembly election. As many as 12 out of the 14 districts recorded more than 70 per cent polling. Only Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram lagged behind, the former touching 68.7 per cent and the latter making up the rear with 68.3 per cent voter turnout.
The constituency that reported the heaviest turnout was Kuttiadi, where 87.2 per cent of those on the electoral rolls cast their votes. The Thiruvananthapuram constituency recorded the lowest turnout of 59.9 per cent.
As many as 24 out of the 140 constituencies recorded more than 80 per cent turnout. The highest increase in voter turnout at roughly six per cent was recorded in Ernakulam district.
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