नवीनतम
Nearly 50 pc polling in six hours in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM [Maha Media]: Kerala’s high-stakes Assembly election gathered remarkable momentum on Thursday, with nearly 50 per cent of the state’s 2.71 crore electorate having exercised their franchise by 1 p.m., raising expectations that the final turnout could challenge long-standing records.
With polling set to close at 6 p.m., all eyes are now on whether the state will breach the elusive 80 per cent mark and possibly inch closer to its historic high of 85 per cent recorded in 1960.
The steady stream of voters across urban and rural booths alike has injected fresh uncertainty into an already tightly contested election.
Officials led by Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Khelkar had set an ambitious target of 85 per cent turnout this time.
While that benchmark remains challenging, the brisk pace of voting has made crossing 80 per cent a realistic possibility, something Kerala has not achieved since 1987, when turnout last touched that level.
In recent electoral cycles, participation has remained robust but below the 80 per cent threshold.
The 2016 Assembly election, which brought Pinarayi Vijayan to power, recorded a turnout of around 77 per cent.
Five years later, when he secured a historic re-election, the figure dipped slightly to about 75 per cent.
Leading the campaign narrative for the Left Democratic Front (LDF), CM Vijayan said the mandate would determine whether Kerala sustains its development trajectory.
After casting his vote, he stressed that there should be no interruption to progress and that continuity in governance is essential.
CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby echoed the sentiment, calling the election a vote for continuity.
“We do not claim everything was perfect, but we have done a lot, and that will reflect when people vote,” he said, expressing confidence in another term for the Left Front.
Key constituency battles underscore the high stakes.
State Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh is locked in a keen contest against Congress leader V.T. Balaram in Thrithala in Palakkad district, one of several closely watched seats.
The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), however, has struck a confident note.
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, after voting in Paravur, urged maximum voter participation, calling it a fundamental democratic right.
He asserted that the UDF is on course for a decisive mandate. “Our assessments clearly show we will cross 100 seats,” he said, adding that public sentiment has shifted in favour of change over the past three months of campaigning.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contesting a triangular fight in several constituencies, including Nemom, projected itself as a potential kingmaker where state BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar is fighting it out.
“This time, a fractured verdict cannot be ruled out, and the BJP will be playing a decisive role in the post-poll scenario,” said Chandrasekhar.
With brisk early turnout and sharp contrasts between continuity and change shaping the narrative, Kerala’s electorate appears set to deliver an interesting verdict.
