Kerala Polls LIVE: 73% votes cast; Tharoor says high turnout favours UDF

Kerala election 2021 LIVE updates: The election is crucial for an array of BJP leaders including former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan, 'Metroman' E Sreedharan

Kerala election 2021: Across Kerala, the response to polling was enthusiastic and, 73 per cent of the electorate had cast their votes so far, said the State Election Commission officials. The fate of 957 candidates would be decided by an electorate of 1,41,62,025 women, 13,283,724 men and 290 transgender voters.

The ruling Left led by its 'Captain' Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote at his home town in Kannur and later said, "The writing on the wall was very evident, right from the time the campaign started we could sense the mood of the people and the Left will retain power."

A total of 140 seats will go to polls across the state, and a three-cornered fight between the incumbent Left-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP is likely. An array of ministers and several sitting MLAs from both the traditional coalitions- the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-headed United Democratic Front (UDF) are seeking another term today.

In the Kerala assembly polls, voting will start at 8 am and end at 6 pm.

Key candidates: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, health minister KK Shailaja, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Power Minister M M Mani and Higher Education Minister KK Jaleel are among the prominent personalities trying their electoral luck from the ruling side.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, senior leaders K Muraleedharan, PT Thomas and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan are among those contesting from the UDF fold.

Stay tuned for Kerala election 2021 LIVE updates

9:30 PM

Kerala records over 73 per cent polling by 7 pm

At least 73.58 per cent of the total 2.74 crore voters exercised their franchise for the state assembly elections according to a preliminary assessment when polling drew to a close at 7 pm in Kerala on Tuesday,the Election Commission of India said.
 

The massive exercise following Covid-19 health protocol involving over two lakh polling officers began at 7 AM and the last hour from 6 PM to 7 PM was set aside for Covid-19 patients and those under isolation.
 

The ECI said 73.69 per cent of male voters, 73.48 per cent of female voters and 37.37 per cent of transgender voters exercised their franchise as per the preliminary assessment till 6.55 PM.
 

The state witnessed massive turnout till afternoon but incessant rain in central Kerala reduced the footfall later.
 

Polling was held for 140 assembly constituencies of Kerala across 40,771 polling stations in the state.
 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (Dharmadam), leader of opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala (Haripad), senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy (Puthupally), BJP state president, K Surendran (Konni and Manjeswaram) and 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan, (Palakkad) were among those who had voted.

Besides Vijayan, 11 of his cabinet colleagues are among the 957 candidates in the fray.
 

The 2016 Assembly elections saw 77.53 per cent voter turnout, while the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 saw a participation of77.84 per cent electors.

Local body polls in 2020 saw a voter turnout of76.2 per cent.
 

9:28 PM

Kerala elections: Minor incidents of violence reported in some places

Kerala continued to witness a massive turnout of voters on Tuesday with 71.31 per cent electors casting their franchise till 6 PM as minor incidents of violence were reported from few places.
 

According to the Election Commission figures, 71.31 per cent polling was recorded till 6 PM.
 

While 71.26 per cent of male voters had cast their franchise, 71.35 per cent were womenand transgenders 36.33 per cent.
 

As many as957 candidates are in the poll arena vying for 140 Assembly seats in the state where the election is being held as per Covid-19 protocol.
 

Two voters, including a woman, standing in the queue in Aranmula in Pathnamthitta and Chavittuavary in Kottayam collapsed and died.
 

Tempers ran high at Kattayikonam in Kazhakootam constituency, a stronghold of the Marxist party in Thiruvananthapuram district, as CPI(M) and BJP workers clashed.
 

Four BJP workers were injured and their car was damaged.
 

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, who is the LDF candidate from the constituency, told reporters that the aim of the protestors was to disrupt the voting procedure and alleged that police had acted as "BJP agent".
 

Three Marxist workers, including the minister's personal staff, have been taken into custody.
 

He said the BJP workers had reached Kattayikonam in two cars and allegedly attacked CPI(M) workers including a ward councillor and that he would file a complaint before the Election Commission and the DGP.
 

Sobha Surendran, the BJP candidate from Kazhakootam constitutency, had earlier in the day held a sit-in protest in front of a polling booth in the area.
 

8:48 PM

Kerala Assembly elections LIVE: 73% voter turnout recorded till 7 pm, according to EC

Kerala Assembly elections LIVE: 73% voter turnout recorded till 7 pm, according to the initial estimates of Election Commission of India 

8:05 PM

Polling for Kerala Assembly Elections 2021 concluded at 7 pm

7:55 PM

Kerala records over 73 per cent polling by 7 pm

At least 73.58 per cent of the total 2.74 crore voters exercised their franchise for the state assembly elections according to a preliminary assessment when polling drew to a close at 7 pm in Kerala on Tuesday,the Election Commission of India said.

 

The massive exercise following Covid-19 health protocol involving over two lakh polling officers began at 7 AM and the last hour from 6 PM to 7 PM was set aside for Covid-19 patients and those under isolation.

 

The ECI said 73.69 per cent of male voters, 73.48 per cent of female voters and 37.37 per cent of transgender voters exercised their franchise as per the preliminary assessment till 6.55 PM.

7:26 PM

Term of Pinarayi Vijayan-led govt will end on May 2: Antony

Senior Congress leader A K Antony on Tuesday said the term of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government will end on May 2 when the election results will beannounced.

 

Speaking to reporters here, he said those who dreamt of retaining power in the state will be shocked to see the outcome of today's poll.

 

Antony cautioned the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) workers, saying the ruling CPI(M) will dare to do anything to remain in power.

7:10 PM

Kerala Assembly Elections LIVE: Nearly 70% voting recorded so far

Kerala Assembly Elections LIVE: Nearly 70% voting recorded so far, according to the Election Commission of India

5:28 PM

Kerala records over 65 per cent polling by 4.30 pm

Kerala continued to witness heavy polling in the crucial assembly elections on Tuesday with over 65 per cent of the total 2.4 crore voters having already cast their franchise to elect representativesin 140 constituencies.

 

Despite scorching heat and sporadic rain in many parts of the state, people, including women and senior citizens, stood in queues for a long time to take part in the democratic exercise.

3:26 PM

'Overslept': Kerala poll officer turns up late for duty

A polling officer in Kerala's Alappuzha failed to turn up on time at his post for Tuesday's Assembly elections, with the excuse that he had overslept.

 

This incident occurred at a booth at Thalavady in Alappuzha.

 

According to rules, all poll officials had to conduct a mock poll at 5.30 a.m. and commence polling at 7 a.m.

 

But at this polling booth, a key poll official was absent, and the authorities were unable to contact him. Proceedings eventually started after a reserve poll official took over the missing officer's duties.

2:58 PM

Higher turnout is good for UDF, too late for Kerala CM to remember Lord Ayyappa: Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said higher turnout for the Kerala Assembly Elections indicate a victory for the United Democratic Front (UDF) adding that it is "too little too late" for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to remember Lord Ayyappa just ahead of the polls.

 

After casting his vote in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor said, "The turnout has been very high... which is unusual for Kerala. As a general rule when the turnout is high UDF will prevail. The other parties are more cadre-based, so be it rain or bad voter turnout they will come and vote whereas UDF voters are regular folks."

2:05 PM

Kerala records 48.71 per cent polling by noon

Brisk polling was witnessed in various places in Kerala on Tuesday with 48.71 percent of 2.74 crore electorate having already cast their vote by noon in the assembly elections being held under the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Despite the soaring temperatures, long queues were seen in various constituencies with men accounting for over 50 per cent of the total votes polled till noon.

 

As many as 46.81 per cent women and 20.06 transgender voters have also exercised their franchise.

1:48 PM

At half way mark, Kerala nearing 50 per cent turnout

If the signs of voting are any indication, at the half way mark on Tuesday, 50 per cent of the Kerala voters have already exercised their franchise.

 

If one was to look back at the 2016 assembly polls the state witnessed a 77.5 per cent overall turnout, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls it rose to 77.84 per cent but it dropped to 76.20 per cent at the December 2020 Local body polls.

 

And as things stand on Tuesday and given the pace at which the polls are taking place, it could well be an all time high if one compares the recent polls.

 

Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor opined that as things stand and given the good turnout, this could be good for the Congress-led UDF.

1:44 PM

LIVE: Actor Mammootty cast his vote at a polling booth in Ernakulam

1:00 PM

Kerala election LIVE: Chelakkara records 43.64% voter turnout till 12.30 pm, Kunnamkulam 43.86%

Chelakkara records 43.64% voter turnout till 12.30 pm, Kunnamkulam 43.86%, Guruvayur 38.16%, Manalur 42.62% and Vadakkancherry 44.83%.

 

12:55 PM

Kerala election 2021 LIVE: Thrissur district records 42.67% voter turnout till now

Kerala election 2021 LIVE: Thrissur district records 42.67% voter turnout till now