70 pc voter turnout in Kerala

An estimated 70 per cent of voters in Kerala exercised their franchise as polling ended peacefully in all the 140 assembly constituencies this evening.

An estimated 70 per cent of voters in Kerala exercised their franchise as polling ended peacefully in all the 140 assembly constituencies this evening.

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The battle to gain power is keenly fought between ruling LDF and Congress-led UDF with BJP making the contest a three-cornered one in at least two seats.

According to officials, the final voter turnout would exceed 70 per cent. Kerala has 2.31 crore voters. In all, 971 candidates are in fray, including Independents.

A constable on duty in a booth at Kadakkal in Kollam district collapsed and died while voting was on. No major incidents of violence or malpractices were reported from anywhere, police said.

In the LDF, lead partner CPI-M is contesting in 93 seats, CPI (27), JD-S (5), RSP, NCP (4 each), Kerala Congress, INL (three each) and Congress-S (1).

In the UDF, Congress has fielded 82 candidates followed by IUML (24), KC-M (15), SJD (6), JSS (4), KC-J, CMP (3 each), KC-B (2) and RSP-B (1).

Key players include Chief Minister and CPI-M veteran V S Acuthanandan (87), seeking mandate from the Left bastion Malampuzha in Palakkad district for the third time.

Besides Achuthanandan, 14 ministers are seeking fresh mandate, eight from CPI-M, two from CPI, one each from RSP, Congress-S, Janata Dal-S and Kerala Congress (Thomas).

BJP is pinning its hopes on senior leader O Rajagopal, contesting in Nemom to open its account in the assembly.