40 per cent polling till noon in Kerala polls

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 22 : An estimated 40 per cent of the 83.89 lakh electorate exercised their franchise till noon for the first phase of Assembly elections in Kerala, covering 59 constituencies spread over six southern districts.

The voting which started in a dull pace gained momentum and moderate to brisk polling was reported from many polling stations in the districts.

Long queues were seen in some polling stations in the rural areas from the morning itself, while polling was on a slow pace in the cities. In the coastal area, where brisk polling is usually seen, the polling started on a dull note and is yet to gain pace.

Election Commission sources said no untoward incident was reported from any districts where polling was progressing.

Thiruruvanathapuram district recorded 30 per cent polling, Kollam 27 per cent, Idukki 28 per cent, Pathanamthitta 38 per cent, Alappuzha 35 per cent and Kottayam 40 per cent, they said.

In some polling stations, voting was disrupted for sometime as the lectronic voting machines did not work. However, polling started again after necessary arrangements were made.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy accompanied by his wife and two children cast his votes at MP Lower Primary School at Puthuppally in Kottayam district. After casting his vote, Mr Chandy accused the Left Democratic Front of stalling development works.

Labour Minister Babu Divakaran, who is contesting from Kollam, and Revenue Minister K M Mani, contesting from Pala, cast their votes at the Kollam S N College and St Thomas High School at Pala respectively.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, who cast his ballot at Chennithala in Mavelikkara, expressed confidence that the United Democratic Front would win the elections. Congress Working Committee member and former Chief Minister A K Antony exercised his franchise at the Jagathy school in Thiruvananthapuram. He also expressed the confidence that the UDF would win the elections.

Former Minister and Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishana Pillai cast his ballot at the DIET High School in Kottarakkara.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Central Committee member M A Baby, who is contesting from Kundara in Kollam district, exercised his franchise at the St Joseph's Higher secondary school in Thiruvananthapuram. Revolutionary Socialist Party state secretary T J Chandrachoodan, who is contesting from Aryanad in Thiruvananthapuram district, cast his vote at the Pettah Boys high school in the city.

A total of 409 candidates are in the fray in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kottayam districts.

The UDF had won 45 of the 59 seats in the 2001 Assembly elections.

UNI