An estimated 74.4% of voters in Kerala exercised their franchise today as voting ended peacefully in all the 140 assembly segments across the state.
According to provisional figures released by Election Commission after polling ended at 5 pm, a total of 74.4% of the 2.31 crore electorate cast their votes, exceeding the 2006 poll percentage of 72.38.
Kannur district topped in the turnout recording 80.4% followed by Kozhikode (80.2%) and Alappuzha and Ernakulam with 77.8% and 77.4%. The lowest voter participation was reported from Pathanamthitta (68.2%) and the capital district Thiruvananthapuram (68.5%).
In Palakkad district, where Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan is contesting in Malampuzha segment, the turnout was 75.3%.
The battle to gain power in the state is keenly fought between ruling LDF and Congress-led UDF with BJP making the contest three-cornered one in at least two seats.
In all, 971 candidates are in the fray, including independents.
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A constable on duty in a booth at Kadakkal in Kollam district collapsed and died while voting was on. No major incidents of violence or malpractices had been reported from anywhere, police said.
In the LDF, lead partner CPI-M is contesting in 93 seats, CPI (27), JD-S (5), RSP, NCP (4 each), Kerala Congress, INL (three each) and Congress-S (1).
In the UDF, Congress has fielded 82 candidates followed by IUML (24), KC-M (15), SJD (6), JSS (4), KC-J, CMP (3 each), KC-B (2) and RSP-B (1).
Key players include Acuthanandan, seeking mandate for the third time and UDF's chief ministerial probable Oommen Chandy from Puthuppally in Kottayam, from where he has won nine times in a row.
Kerala PCC president Ramesh Chennithala is contesting after a long gap from his home turf Harippad in Alappuzha and late K Karunakaran's son K Muraleedharan is seeking election from Vattiurkavu.
Besides Achuthanandan, 14 ministers are seeking fresh mandate, eight from CPI-M, two from CPI, one each from RSP, Congress-S, Janata Dal-S and Kerala Congress (Thomas).
BJP is pinning its hopes on senior leader O Rajagopal, contesting in Nemom to open its account in the assembly.