Heavy polling in Kerala bypolls: about 66 per cent cast votes

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 7 : An estimated 66 per cent of voters today excercised their franchise in the bypolls to three Assembly constituencies of Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha.

Kannur recorded the highest polling percentage of about 73 per cent, Alappuzha 65 per cent and Ernakulam about 61.4 per cent.

In spite of the unprecedented rain, people turned up in large numbers to exercise their franchise in all the three constituencies from the morning itself.

No untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Central Police forces had been deployed at the polling booths to ensure free and fair elections.

Voters of Makaparambu in Ernakulam boycotted the bypolls to protest against the apathy of the elected representatives in solving their long-pending problems. At Mulavukkadu, some voters had exercised their franchise, but a majority of them refrained from casting their votes.

Though there was a minor hiccup initially in Ernakulam as voting machines at two polling booths developed technical snags, the problem was solved without delay.

A report from Kannur said the LDF had complained to the Election Commissioner against the Central Police Forces for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

LDF election committee secretary M Prakashan in his petition said the Central Force personnel had verified the election ID cards of voters and threatened them in some booths, entering there without the permission of the presiding and polling officers.

BJP candidate from Ernakulam constituency Sobha Surendran lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer in connection with a statement made by UDF candidate Dominic Presentation to mediapersons.

In a query relating to the boycott by voters in Mulavukkadu and Makaparambu, Mr Presentation said ''the Church had urged the electorate to cast their votes in the elections.'' Ms Surendran had contended that the statement was a violation of code of conduct.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
Unauthorised publication of any content from NewKerala.Com is prohibited