District Records 68.27% Turnout In Lok Sabha Polls | Kochi News - Times of India

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Kochi: Even as

Ernakulam parliamentary constituency

recorded over 68.27% (figure last updated at 10pm by PRD) voting in the Lok Sabha elections held on Friday, a good number of

city dwellers

chose not to exercise their right despite a slew of measures by the

authorities

to lure them to the polling booths. Among that 70.3% were male voters and 66.3% were female voters.

The voting in Ernakulam assembly constituency -- main city area -- was less than 63%, lowest among the total seven assembly constituencies in Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. Meanwhile, Kochi assembly constituency (Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and neighbouring areas) registered over 66% voting.

This is a trend seen even in the earlier elections. Anticipating a repeat of poor voter turnout, the district election authorities had launched a slew of measures, including night walk with the support of residents' associations to lure the voters to polling booths. But all these efforts went in vain.

Ernakulam LS constituency witnessed 77.64% polling in the 2019 election whereas it was 73.58% in 2014.

P Rangadasa Prabhu, president of Ernakulam district residents' associations apex council (EDRAAC), is dismayed over the continued apathy of city dwellers towards exercising their rights. "What we have learned is that many city dwellers favor visiting their native places since they have holidays for three days consecutively. Besides, residents in the gated community usually stay away from voting. They overbearingly assume that voting is for impoverished people," he said.

Meanwhile, the polling process was peaceful across the district as no major untoward incidents were reported, except a scuffle between CPM and Twenty20 workers at Malayidamthuruthu. Almost all booths witnessed long queues right from the moment voting commenced, and the constituency recorded 24.5% polling until 11am. Then the voting process slowed down, mainly due to the intense heat condition. "All the three booths here witnessed heavy voter turnout in the morning. But the situation changed after 12pm. In the evening also the booths witnessed a rush of voters," said Justine, one of the polling agents at Thatazham LP School in Vaduthala.

While LDF candidate of Ernakulam constituency K J Shine cast her vote in Kumara Vilasam LP School near North Paravur, UDF candidate Hibi Eden cast his vote at Mamangalam LP School. BJP candidate K S Radhkirhsnan cast his vote in Cheranalloor Al Farookiah HSS. After a woman complained about impersonation and bogus voting in a booth at Puthuvype, UDF workers staged a protest. Following this she was allowed to cast a tender vote.