Moderate to brisk polling in Kerala second phase

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 29 (UNI) Moderate to brisk polling was reported today in the second phase of Assembly elections in Kerala, covering 66 constituencies in six central districts, with an estimated 30 to 35 per cent casting their votes till noon.

Polling was peaceful so far with no untoward incident reported from anywhere, Election Commission sources said here.

The sources said 24.02 per cent polling was reported till 1100 hrs, with Wayanad reporting the maximum of 29.50 per cent.

Reports said heavy turn out of voters was witnessed in 'VIP' constituencies like Malampuzha, from where CPI(M) stalwart and Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan is seeking a mandate, Koduvally (Democratic Indira Congress-Karunakaran president K Muraleedharan), Kuttipuram (Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty) and Palakkad (BJP leader and former Union Minister O Rajagopal).

A total of 437 candidates are in the fray covering 66 seats in the districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. There are 10.6 million voters, including 5.51 million women and 9,768 polling booths have been set up.

The fate of nine Ministers in the Oommen Chandy Cabinet - M K Muneer (Mankada), E T Mohammed Basheer (Thirur), Dominic Presentation (Palluruthy), V K Ibrahim Kunju (Mattanchery), Kutty Ahamed Kutty (Thirurangadi), Aryadan Mohammed (Nilambur), A Sujanapal (Kozhikode-I) and P Anilkumar (Vandoor) will be decided today.

The Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest constituent of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF), is facing an uphill task this time to maintain its supremacy in the Malabar region where the Marxist party had made inroads in the recent past.

The first phase of polls to the six southern districts was on April 22 and the last phase for the remaining Kasargode and Kannur districts is scheduled for May three.

LDF convener Paloli Mohammed Kutty told media that the LDF would register a historic win as all factors were in its favour.

Democratic Indira Congress leader K Karunakaran said the UDF would win the election as it was a united house now.

UNI CR AA MA HT1240