The Hindu : Front Page : 70 p.c. vote in Kerala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 30, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

70 p.c. vote in Kerala

Special Correspondent

Second phase polls witness blast, incidents in Kozhikode district

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of Assembly elections held in Kerala on Saturday saw a heavy turnout. Preliminary figures indicated that the polling percentage averaged around 70 per cent.

The polling, covering six districts, was by and large peaceful. An explosion and some minor incidents of violence occurred in Kozhikode district.

Several prominent leaders are seeking election in this phase covering 66 constituencies. Their constituencies recorded above average polling.

The Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district, where Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan is contesting, recorded a percentage of nearly 75 per cent. Polling was well above 75 per cent in Koduvally constituency, where the son of former Congress leader K. Karunakaran and president of the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran), K. Muraleedharan, is seeking mandate. The VIP constituencies of Kuttippuram, Ponnani and Palakkad also reported heavy polling.

Ponnani drew attention as the convener of the Opposition Left Democratic Front, Paloli Mohammedkutty, is in fray, while Palakkad evoked interest because of the candidature of the BJP leader and former Union Minister of State, O. Rajagopal.

Kuttippuram witnessed some minor skirmishes. Supporters of the Muslim League leader and former Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, and youth leader K. T. Jaleel, who had been expelled from the party for opposing him, clashed with each other.

Men and women turned up in large numbers in the morning itself in most constituencies. By noon, the polling percentages had crossed 40. Long queues could be seen at many places. Unlike in the past, the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district saw brisk polling. Fearing that the trend was against it, the League leaders persuaded women to come to the polling booths in the afternoon.

The turnout was low in Kochi city and nearby areas (in Ernakulam district) while the eastern areas of the district reported brisk polling. Polling was uneventful in Thrissur district, which had seen a political murder during the campaigning.

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