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

12:54 PM

Kerala election LIVE updates: Ernakulam witnesses 41.53% polling till 12.30pm

Ernakulam witnesses 41.53% polling till 12.30pm

 

12:54 PM

Actor Mammootty casts his vote

11:55 AM

Kerala election 2021 LIVE: Congress leader AK Antony cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram

Congress leader AK Antony cast his vote at Government High School, Jagathy in Thiruvananthapuram earlier today. 

10:47 AM

Kerala election 2021 LIVE: 10% voting in first two hours in Kerala

Across Kerala, the response to polling was enthusiastic and after the first two hours of poll, 10 per cent of the electorate had cast their votes, said the State Election Commission officials on Wednesday.

 

The fate of 957 candidates would be decided by an electorate of 1,41,62,025 women, 1,32,83,724 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."

9:37 AM

Kerala BJP President K Surendran and his family cast their votes in Modakkallur, Kozhikode

Kerala BJP President K Surendran and his family cast their votes in Modakkallur, Kozhikode

8:15 AM

Kerala election 2021: PM Modi urges first-time voters to vote

7:33 AM

Kerala election 2021 LIVE: Kerala represents the biggest challenge for the BJP

Kerala represents the biggest challenge for the BJP. Although the party has now entered the political conversation in the state and has a formidable organisational presence, it has only one Member of the Legislative Assembly in the outgoing Assembly.

 

Charges of being in league with the ruling Communist Party of India Marxist, or CPI(M), may be fanciful, wrought from the narrative of disgruntled party members who were denied a ticket. But the party has traction in pockets where the Sabarimala issue continues to be discussed feverishly.

 

It has to contend with the welfare politics of the outgoing Left Democratic Front as well as its management of the Covid-19 crisis, the welfare of Gulf returnees in the wake of the pandemic, and the crisis of unemployment. Although the issue of corruption in the gold smuggling case and the arrest of the chief minister’s (CM’s) personal staff has infected the campaign, it might not be the game-changer the BJP is hoping it will be. The Congress is working hard to retain its presence, but this election could represent its worst-ever performance.

7:24 AM

Request people to vote in record numbers, says PM Modi

7:16 AM

Kerala election 2021: 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan casts vote at a polling booth in Ponnani