Assembly polls peaceful in Kerala, 70 pc polling

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 29 : Barring a few minor incidents, the second phase of Assembly polls to elect 66 members from six central and northern districts of the state to the 140-member House, passed off peacefully today, with an estimated 70 per cent of the voters exercising their franchise.

The second phase was crucial for both the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Opposition Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to come to power.

Election Commission sources said the polling was peacefull, except a few minor incidents. The polling percentage is likely to exceed 70 per cent as against the first phase figure of 69.78.

Reports from the six districts said heated exchanges were witnessed in some polling booths between rival party activists over the attempts to cast bogus votes and non-visibility of poll symbols in voting machines. Technical snag in the electronic voting machine was also reported from some booths.

A person was injured when a country bomb went off at Nadapuram in Kozhikode district, while another person was arrested when he tried to cast bogus vote.

Stalwarts like Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan (Malampuzha), Democratic Indira Congress(Karunakaran) K Muraleedharan (Koduvally), Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty (Kuttipuram) and BJP leader and former Union Minister O Rajagopal were the prominent candidates who sought votes in the second phase.

UNI