Kerala Polls: Voting Concludes With 74% Turnout Till 7pm
Catch all the live updates from the polling in the Kerala Assembly elections here.
A voter turnout of 73.58 percent was recorded in Kerala till 7:00 pm as voting concluded in the state on Tuesday, 6 April. All of the state's 140 constituencies voted in a single phase on Tuesday, with 957 candidates in the fray.
Meanwhile, tensions prevailed as four CPI(M) workers were allegedly assaulted by BJP workers, in Thiruvananthapuram's Kattayikonam. Police are also said to have detained CPI(M) workers.
Superstar Mammootty cast his vote at the Ponnurunni CKS School in Kochi, Ernakulam district in Kerala with his wife Sulfath, around 11.30 am on Tuesday.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote in Kannur's Pinarayi. "People have been with the LDF government always. The people stand with the LDF, despite all odds. We will close the account of BJP in Nemom... Ayyapan (Sabarimala) and all the Gods are with those who work for the people. They are with LDF," he said.
- The UDF’s candidate from Nemom, K Muraleedharan, said that the BJP will not get a single seat in Kerala. “We will close the BJP’s account in Kerala.”
- Casting his vote in Thiruvananthapuram, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor pointed to the high turnout and said the “UDF will prevail”
- Key candidates from the ruling LDF government include CM Pinarayi Vijayan, KK Shailaja, Kadakampally Surendran, MM Mani, and KK Jaleel
- Prominent leaders in the fray from the Opposition include Ramesh Chennithala, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, K Muraleedharan, PT Thomas, and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
- Apart from Sreedharan, other key BJP leaders include K Surendran, Shobha Surendran, and Rajya Sabha members Suresh Gopi and K J Alphons
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2.74 Crore Voters Across the State
Around 2.74 crore voters across the state are expected to decide the fate of 957 candidates in 140 Assembly constituencies in Kerala.
Voting Begins in 140 Seats in Kerala With 957 Candidates in Fray
Voting began in 140 constituencies in Kerala at 7 am on Tuesday with 957 candidates in the fray.
'BJP Will Have an Impressive Show This Time': 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan Casts Vote
Among the earliest to vote in Kerala on Tuesday was 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan, who recently joined the BJP.
"The BJP will have an impressive show this time, there's no doubt about it. I will win from the Palakkad constituency with a big margin. My entry into BJP has given a different image to the party," he said, after casting his vote in Ponnani.
Meanwhile, BJP state President K Surendran said the NDA will increase its seat share and vote share in Kerala this time around.
In Photos: Voting Underway in Thiruvananthapuram
'Vote in Record Numbers': PM Modi
As polling began in four states and one Union territory on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people of Kerala, along with those of Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to vote in record numbers.
'Ayyapan and All the Other Gods Are With LDF': CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan reached a polling booth in Kannur's Pinarayi early on Tuesday to cast his vote.
"People have been with the LDF government always. The people stand with the LDF, despite all odds. We will close the account of BJP in Nemom... Ayyapan (Sabarimala) and all the Gods are with those who work for the people. They are with LDF," he said.
UDF's Ramesh Chennithala Casts His Vote
UDF leader Ramesh Chennithala cast his vote from Thottakkara in Palakkad on Tuesday.
14.5% Turnout Recorded in Kerala Till 9 am
A voter turnout of 14.5 percent has been recorded in Kerala till 9 am.
'Will Close the BJP's Account in Kerala': UDF's Nemom Candidate
The UDF's candidate from Nemom constituency, K Muraleedharan, on Tuesday said that the BJP will not get a single seat in Kerala. "We will close the BJP's account in Kerala."
Notably, Nemom is the constituency from where BJP's O Rajagopal won in the 2016 elections.
Congress' AK Antony Casts Vote in Thiruvananthapuram
Congress leader AK Antony cast his vote at the Government High School, Jagathy, in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, ANI reported.
34.3% Voter Turnout in Kerala Till 11:30 am
A voter turnout of 34.3 percent has been recorded in Kerala till 11:30 am.
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Casts Vote in Kannur
Casting her vote in Kannur on Tuesday, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja reportedly said, "The COVID-19 mortality rate in Kerala is 0.4 percent. We brought many social welfare measures during COVID-19. People are seeing all this and they will vote for us."
Kerala BJP Prez K Surendran Casts Vote in Kozhikode
Kerala BJP President K Surendran and his family cast their votes in Modakkallur, Kozhikode, on Tuesday, ANI reported.
43.3% Voter Turnout Recorded in Kerala Till 1 pm
A voter turnout of 43.3 percent has been recorded in Kerala till 1 pm.
In Kannur, a high turnout of 46.3 percent has been recorded so far, followed by a turnout of 44.2 percent in Thrissur.
Voter Turnout of 51.4% in Kerala Till 2 pm
A voter turnout of 51.4 percent has been recorded in Kerala till 2 pm.
Meanwhile, tension was reported from Kannur and Pathanamthitta districts. Four BJP workers were also injured in Kazhakkoottam in a mild scuffle with CPI(M) workers.
'UDF Will Prevail': Shashi Tharoor Casts Vote in Thiruvananthapuram
Casting his vote at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor reportedly said, “The turnout has been pretty high... By 10 am, already 20% (turnout was recorded) , which is unusual for Kerala. As a general rule, when the turnout is high, the UDF will prevail.”
Meanwhile, Union Minister V Muraleedharan cast his vote at the Kottaram booth in Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, reported ANI.
Minister Balan Complains to EC Against Chennithala, Sukumaran Nair
Minister for the Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities AK Balan raised a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G Sukumaran Nair and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala for bringing up the Sabarimala row on polling day.
"It is unconstitutional and a challenge to the Representation of the People Act," the minister said.
59% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 3:30 PM
This is provisional data and may be updated again shortly.
Kattayikonam: 4 CPI(M) Workers Allegedly Assaulted by BJP Workers
Tensions previaled as four CPI(M) workers were allegedly assaulted by BJP workers, in Thiruvananthapuram's Kattayikonam. Police is also said to have detained CPI(M) workers.
Former Endowment Minister Kadakampally Surendran's personal staff member was also allegedly assaulted.
Further, DYFI has alleged that CPI(M) workers' homes were also searched.
65.93% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 4:00 PM
This is provisional data and may be updated again shortly.
'BJP Wanted to Create Tension in Kattayikonam': Kerala MLA
Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly Kadakampally Surendran, in a press conference alleged that BJP wanted to create tension in Kattayikonam.
70.1% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 5:00 PM
This is provisional data and may be updated again shortly.
71.4 % Voter Turnout Recorded Till 6:00 PM
This is provisional data and may be updated again shortly.
73.58% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 7:00 PM
This is provisional data and may be updated again shortly.