Local body ward bypolls in Keralam see 58.81% voter turnout

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People wait to cast their votes in the local body bypolls at St. Alberts School in Kochi on Monday. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

The bypolls held to 38 local body wards in the State on Monday saw a voter turnout of 58.81%, State Election Commissioner N. Seshadrinathan said.

The counting of the polled votes will begin across multiple centres at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The results, keenly awaited as these byelections are the first after the United Democratic Front (UDF) came to power in the State in May, can be accessed on the TREND link on the commission’s website www.sec.kerala.gov.in.

In all, 1,82,160 voters exercised their franchise. This included 98,090 women and 84,070 men.

Voters arrive at the Government Boys’ School in Chalakudy to cast their ballots in the byelection to Ward 24 of the Chalakudy municipality on Monday. | Photo Credit: K.K. NAJEEB

The local body wards in Kannur district recorded the highest polling (84.55%), while those in Kottayam registered the lowest (54.25%). Of the two Corporation wards that saw bypolls, Ayyappankavu in Kochi Corporation recorded a turnout of 46.91% and Kuttichira in Kozhikode Corporation recorded 54.36%.

In all, 126 candidates were in the fray. The 38 local body wards — in 12 districts — included two Corporation wards, three municipality wards, three district panchayat wards, seven block panchayat wards and 23 grama panchayat wards.

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