Over 74 % turnout in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: 74.6 per cent of 22 million electorate in Kerala exercised their franchise Wednesday as voting ended peacefully in all the 140 assembly segments across the state. In the last general elections in May 2009, the turnout was 73.37 percent.

Kannur district recorded the highest percentage with 80.3%  voting and Pathanamthitta recorded the lowest with 68.7 per cent.

There were 971 candidates, including 78 women, in the fray.

The enthusiasm of the voters boosted the morale of the two main fronts competing in a state that has never returned a government to power.

An upbeat Ramesh Chennithala of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) said they would win 100 of the 140 seats in the assembly. The former state Congress chief is contesting from Haripad in Alappuzha district.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was equally confident.

He told reporters after casting his vote in Alappuzha district that the Left would get a renewed mandate as people would give the Left a second term.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said after casting his vote: "Last time we had only two digit figure (98 seats); this time, it will increase to three figures."

Among the many thousands who voted was Thiruvallam Bhasi, a journalist from Melbourne registered as an NRI voter.

"The presiding officer in my booth was surprised to see an NRI voter. I voted by showing my passport. He, in fact, asked me if I had come specifically to cast my vote, and I said yes," said Bhasi.

A highlight of this election is that 8,862 non-resident Keralites -- 8,531 males and 331 women -- have been registered to vote.

Polling in Districts

Kasargod:  76.3%
Kannur: 80.3%
Wynad: 73.8%
Kozhikode: 80.2%
Malappuram: 73.3%
Palakkad: 75.4%
Thrissur: 74.7%
Ernakulam: 77.4%
Idukki: 71.1%
Kottayam: 73.5%
Alappuzha: 78.1%
Pathanamthitta: 68.7%
Kollam: 72.8%
Thiruvananthapuram: 68.3%