Thiruvananthapuram/Guwahati, April 9 Assam recorded a record voter turnout of over 85.64 per cent, while Kerala witnessed impressive polling with more than 78 per cent in the assembly elections on Thursday, according to the latest Election Commission figures. The ruling parties in both states are aiming for a third consecutive term.
Puducherry, a small union territory about 165 km from Chennai, with 30 constituencies, saw a new voter turnout record of 89.87 per cent. This was the highest polling percentage so far since 1964, when the UT, a former French colony, was merged with India.
Chief Minister Himanta Sarma of Assam hailed the high voter turnout as "historic," saying the results "are already visible – in the hope, pride, and happiness" of the people. However, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi asserted that the high turnout was for a "new and greater Assam" and a new leadership.
Gogoi added that the Election Commission now has the responsibility to ensure the security of EVMs and conduct accurate vote counting.
Both Sarma and Gogoi are among the 722 candidates contesting in these elections across 126 constituencies. The total number of voters is 2.5 crore. In 2021, Assam recorded 82.04 per cent in the assembly polls.
In Kerala, where the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have traditionally driven high participation, 883 candidates are contesting from the 140 assembly constituencies. The total number of voters is 2.71 crore, and 78.27 per cent of them cast their votes on Thursday.
CPI(M) leader C N Mohanan said an increase in the polling percentage would benefit the LDF, as its workers had worked to ensure maximum voter turnout.
BJP Ernakulam district president K S Shaiju said the increase in polling percentage resulted from a higher turnout of women voters, which would favour the BJP.
Congress leader Deepthi Mary Varghese, however, said the reasons behind the rise in the polling percentage required detailed analysis. "Usually, when the polling percentage rises, it favours the UDF," she said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar expressed confidence that the current voting trend indicates a 90 per cent turnout.
In the 2021 assembly polls, Kerala recorded 74.06 per cent voter turnout.
Alongside Kerala and Assam, voting for the 30-member Puducherry assembly was also held on Thursday, recording a record turnout of 89.87 per cent. The opposition Congress-led bloc is aiming to wrest power from the AINRC-led front in the union territory.
While the polls in Kerala will decide whether the LDF secures a rare third consecutive term, or if the UDF, led by the Congress, makes a comeback after a decade, the NDA seeks to deepen its influence in the traditionally bipolar political landscape of the state, the high-stakes elections in Assam see a close contest between the ruling BJP, which is aiming for a third consecutive term, and the Congress, which was ousted in 2016.
Thursday's elections are the first leg of the polls in four states and one UT: Kerala and Assam. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, and in Tamil Nadu, the polls will occur in one phase on April 23. Vote counting for all four states and the UT will be on May 4.
The elections are taking place against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict, which has triggered an LPG crisis in the country. This issue was also prominent in the poll campaign, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders assuring a stable supply, while the opposition attacked the Central government over the potential shortage.
While the polling was largely peaceful in Kerala and Puducherry, officials said seven people were held in connection with election-related violence at two places in Assam. Besides, minor clashes also erupted at several polling booths in Assam after voting began in the morning, causing minor injuries.
Several senior leaders, candidates and public figures participated in the voting process in the two states and the UT, including chief ministers – Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) and Sarma, and Malayalam actors – Mammootty and Mohanlal.
In Puducherry, a robot carrying a plate of flower petals welcomed voters at a model polling booth set up at the VOC government higher secondary school in the Raj Bhavan constituency. The robot moved along the corridor, greeting visitors.