58.14% voter turnout recorded in byelections in Ernakulam

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Voters cast their ballots at a polling booth at St. Albert’s School in Kochi during the local body bypolls on September 28. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

Voter turnout for the by-elections to four local body wards in Ernakulam district on Monday (September 28) remained moderate at 58.14%.

Of the 10,003 voters in the four segments, including a Corporation ward, only 5,816 cast their votes in the interim polls necessitated by various reasons. While the three grama panchayat wards witnessed brisk polling, the Ayyappankavu division of Kochi Corporation recorded only 46.91% voter turnout, pushing the overall figures down.

In Ayyappankavu, where the bypoll was necessitated following the election of Congress’ Deepak Joy as Thripunithura MLA, 3,009 of the total 6,415 voters exercised their franchise. The United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded A.K. Ajithkumar to retain the seat, while P.K. Usman and K.V. Bijoy are the candidates of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Among the four wards, Kolencherry East Ward (8) of Poothrukka grama panchayat recorded the highest polling percentage at 81.61%. Of the 881 voters, 719 turned up at the polling booth. The UDF has fielded Saramma Paily Pillai against LDF’s Neethu Joyd and Twenty20’s Deenamma Jacob in the bypoll necessitated following the resignation of Twenty20’s Pooja Jomon in protest against her party’s decision to join the NDA.

The Puliyanam East Ward of Parakkadavu panchayat also witnessed an impressive polling turnout of 75.86%. Of the 1,276 voters, 968 exercised their franchise. The candidates are Mallika Ravi (UDF), Sugandhi Joshi (LDF) and Sandra Subrahmanian (NDA). The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of LDF’s Raji Rajeev after getting a job overseas.

The Madaplathuruth ward of Vadakkekara panchayat witnessed 78.27% voter turnout. Jose Kuniyanthodath of the UDF is pitted against Laiju Joseph of the LDF and P.R. San of the NDA there. The bypoll was caused following the resignation of UDF’s Sebi Puthenveettil after getting a job abroad. The ward falls within the North Paravur Assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

The results of the bypolls will be declared on Tuesday (September 29).

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