Thiruvananthapuram: About 77.15 per cent of the total 2,61,51,534 electorates in Kerala exercised their franchise in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday. Kannur recorded the highest polling percentage of 82.32, followed by Wayanad at 80.85 per cent and Ponnani reported the least polling at 73.74 per cent. The average polling percentage of 77.15 in 2019 was so high compared to 74.02 per cent recorded in 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala. Pathanamthita, the epicentre of Sabarimala issue, recorded considerable increase in polling, registering 74.05 per cent as against 65.84 per cent that recorded in 2014.
Thiruvananthapuram seat also recorded a high turnout of 73.26 per cent as against 68.64 recorded in the previous Lok Sabha election. Thrissur constituency was the another place where unpredictable results are awaiting. An estimated 77.19 per cent of voters cast their votes as against 72.21 per cent in 2014. Wayanad, from where Congress President Rahul Gandhi seek his second mandate after Amethi, recorded high turnout of 80.85 per cent, as against 73.26 per cent in 2014. The poll percentage of other constituencies are as follows.
Kasaragod recorded 80.12 per cent voting, Kozhikode 80.01, Vadakara 80.45, Malappuram 75.12, Palakkad 77.23, Aalathur 80.28, Ernakulam 76.75, Kottayam 75.22, Kollam 74.23, Chalakkudy 80.11, Attingal 74.04, Idukki 76.26, Mavelikkara 73.93 and Alappuzha 80.12. Except a few complaints of technical snag in Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and a few violent incidents, by and large the polling was peaceful.
As many as 227 candidates were in the fray to 20 Lok Sabha seats from Kerala. Right from the morning it was seen that large number of women turned out for casting their votes leading to the high turnout of polling this time. According to political observers, there were two reasons behind the high turnout of electorates, the controversial Sabarimala issue and the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from the Wayanad constituency.
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