Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 Kerala surpassed the 75% voter turnout by 5 pm, as polling continued in 140 assembly constituencies on Thursday.
These crucial elections will determine whether the ruling LDF will secure a straight third term, or if the UDF makes a comeback, or if the BJP surprises everyone in what is otherwise a bipolar contest.
According to Election Commission (EC) figures, by 5 pm, 75.01% of the 2.71 crore voters had cast their votes.
In the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, a turnout of 74.06% was recorded, and the highest polling the state has seen is 80.5%, which was in the 1987 Assembly elections.
The ruling LDF is fighting to retain power, relying on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's model of governance and welfare.
The Congress-led UDF is vying to regain power, seeking to end a decade of Left rule in the state. Amidst this traditionally bipolar contest, the BJP-led NDA is looking to disrupt the duopoly of LDF and UDF and aims to translate its growing vote share into a decisive presence in the state assembly.
The polling appeared to be slowing down slightly in the afternoon compared to the first half of the day, when there was an increase of around 16% in the turnout every two hours.
The turnout was recorded at 16.23% at 9 am, which increased to 33.28% at 11 am and 49.70% at 1 pm, according to EC figures.
However, at 3 pm, a turnout of 62.71% was recorded, and it increased to 75.01% at 5 pm, indicating an increase of around 13%.
The figures also showed that Kozhikode district recorded the highest polling percentage of 77.63%, pushing Ernakulam, which had been in the lead since morning, to second place with 77.25% at 5 pm.
Constituency-wise, Kunnathunad topped with 81.99%. The lowest turnout came in Kaduthuruthy with 66.81% (all data at 5 pm).
Earlier, Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar expressed confidence that the current voting trend indicates that a turnout of 90% will be achieved.
Polling in all 140 Assembly constituencies in Kerala commenced at 7 am.
Political leaders and prominent personalities who cast their votes in the morning included CM Vijayan, Congress leader V D Satheesan, Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and actor Mohanlal.