1.06 cr voters to decide Govt in Kerala tomorrow

Kochi, Apr 28 (UNI) About 1.06 crore voters in 66 constitutencies will decide the fate of 436 candidates in the second phase of the Assembly polls in six central districts of Kerala tomorrow, to virtually decide the next government in the state.

Having gained an edge in the campaign leg, the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) looks confident of making inroads into the traditional bastions of the United Democratic Front (UDF), which won 50 out of the 66 seats in 2001.

With the first phase exit polls giving a clear upper hand to the LDF in the 59 segments in the southern districts, the second phase turns crucial for both the fronts as only two districts with 15 seats, the traditional Left forts, will be left for the final phase on May 3.

Polling officials have been dispatched with election materials and security personnel to man 9,768 polling booths in the districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad.

Election Commission sources said all steps had been taken for the smooth conduct of polling, scheduled from 0700 to 1700 hrs.

As many as 11,870 electronic voting machines are to be deployed and over 25,000 police personnel, backed by 20 companies of para-military forces, are in place for security, officials said.

After the end of the campaign, the candidates and workers today got into active squad works to meet the voters in person and for door-to-door campaigns, looking for the last-minute tilts eyeing on the under currents.

The LDF charge is led by its campaign mascot V S Achuthanandan, the most likely Left candidate for the Chief Minister's post, while many of the stalwarts from the UDF camp are facing the acid test in their backyards.

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