Second phase poll peaceful, 70 per cent polling

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

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

Election Commission sources said 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 attempts to cast bogus votes and non-visibility of poll symbols in voting machines. Technical snags 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 a bogus vote.

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.

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