Chennai: Kerala recorded a voting of 71.7 per cent while in Tamil Nadu the percentage was 69.19 per cent and in Puducherry it was over 80 per cent. Election officials in Kerala said 71.7 per cent is the tentative and it was likely to go up to 75 per cent after finalisation of voter turnout. Around 26 million people were eligible to vote for the 140-member Assembly.
The Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front and the Communist Party of India-Marxist headed opposition Left Democratic Front are in a neck and neck electoral fight in the state where the BJP is striving hard to make a maiden entry into the assembly.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition leader and 93-year-old Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan, CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, 83-year-old Kerala Congress (M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani were among the 1,203 candidates in the electoral arena.
Tamil Nadu
Barring a few minor incidents, polling went off peacefully in Tamil Nadu, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said, adding one person was arrested for trying to distribute money. Many constituencies recorded over 80 per cent polling which include Kulithalai in Karur district with 87.55 per cent, Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district 87.61 per cent and Edappadi in Salem district 85.7 per cent, Lakhoni said.
Lakhoni, however, said that there may be some changes in the final tally on the overall turnout since the final figure is being collated in a few constituencies which include Kolathur and Villivakkam in Chennai. He said in urban regions like Chennai, the turnout was comparatively lower and hence the overall average was low. Answering a question, he said whoever had come to the booths before 6 pm were allowed to vote and rains did not necessitate extension of time to vote.
Puducherry
The UT comprises Puducherry and its enclaves Yanam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe and Karaikal. There are 941,000 voters of whom 494,000 lakh women. The EC officials said Puducherry registered 72.21 per cent polling, Karaikal 65.49 per cent, Mahe 64.83 per cent and Yanam 77.63 per cent. Around 344 contestants, including 96 Independents, are in the fray for election on the 30 assembly seats in the Union Territory.
