Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, April 13 (IANS) Assembly elections in Kerala ended on a peaceful note Wednesday with 74.6 percent of the 22 million electorate voting for a new house and both the rival fronts claiming that victory would be theirs.

Kannur district recorded the highest turnout of 80.30 percent, closely followed by Kozhikode with 80.20 percent, while Thiruvananthapuram recorded the lowest turnout at 68.30 percent.

In the last general elections in May 2009, the turnout was 73.37 percent.

Election officials said polling ended at 5 p.m. but those in the queue would be allowed to vote.

Barring a few minor skirmishes reported at a few places, the election process ended on a peaceful note.

There were 971 candidates, including 78 women, in the fray.

The enthusiasm of the voters boosted the morale of the two main fronts competing in a state that has never returned a government to power.

An upbeat Ramesh Chennithala of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) said they would win 100 of the 140 seats in the assembly. The former state Congress chief is contesting from Haripad in Alappuzha district.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was equally confident.

He told reporters after casting his vote in Alappuzha district that the Left would get a renewed mandate as people would give the Left a second term.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said after casting his vote: “Last time we had only atwo digit figure (98 seats); this time, it will increase to three figures.”

Among the many thousands who voted was Thiruvallam Bhasi, a journalist from Melbourne registered as an NRI voter.

“The presiding officer in my booth was surprised to see an NRI voter. I voted by showing my passport. He, in fact, asked me if I had come specifically to cast my vote, and I said yes,” said Bhasi.

A highlight of this election is that 8,862 non-resident Keralites — 8,531 males and 331 women — have been registered to vote.