Kerala surpasses 2021 polling percentage
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/ GUWAHATI, April 9: Assam registered a record voter turnout of 85.64 per cent while Kerala witnessed an impressive polling with more than 78 per cent in the assembly elections on Thursday, according to the latest Election Commission figures, as the ruling dispensations in the two states eye a third consecutive term in power.
Puducherry, a small union territory located about 165 km from Chennai, and comprising 30 constituencies, saw a new voter turnout record of 89.87 per cent. This was the highest polling percentage so far since 1964 when the first election was held here following the merger of the UT, a former French colony, with India.
Dubbing the high voter turnout as “historic,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma said the result of this “election is already visible– in the hope, pride, and happiness” on the faces of our people. However, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi asserted that the overwhelming turnout was for a “new and greater Assam” and a new leadership at the helm.
Both Sarma and Gogoi are among the 722 candidates contesting from 126 constituencies in these elections. The total number of voters is 2.5 crore. In 2021, Assam recorded 82.04 per cent in the assembly polls.
In Kerala, where competition between the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) has traditionally driven high participation, 883 candidates are contesting from the 140 assembly constituencies. The total number of voters is 2.71 crore and 78.27 per cent of them performed their democratic duty on Thursday. (PTI)
