Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 (IANS). After 23 days of intense election campaigning, the decisive day arrived in Kerala on Thursday, where around 2.71 crore voters will decide who will rule the state. Voting started at 7 am. Voter superstar Mohanlal from the much-talked-about constituency of Nemom was seen standing in the queue to vote at around 6:45 am. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty and his Congress rival K.S. Sabrinathan was also present.
State BJP president Rajiv Chandrashekhar was among the early voters. CM P. Vijayan also reached the polling station in the morning and cast his vote.
The machinery at polling stations in Kerala came into action even before dawn in all 140 constituencies. By 5:30 am, 30,471 polling stations in the state had become active and officials had started the mandatory mock polling process. By 6:30 am, long queues had started forming across the state.
From Thodupuzha, long queues of elderly voters were a reflection of the deep civic engagement of Kerala voters that has become the hallmark of the region.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi stood in the queue to vote at a polling booth in Guruvayoor at 6:30 am, while Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan was seen voting with his family in Paravur.
Long queues were seen before the start of voting at Panakkad CHMM LP School in Malappuram district. Long queues of voters were formed outside polling stations in Thiruvananthapuram. Opposition turncoat and UDF candidate V.D. Satheesan cast his vote at a polling booth in Kochi.
Voting arrangements and mock polling were organized in the school located in Coonoor (booth no. 193, 194 and 195). A large number of voters had reached the polling stations before the voting started. Voters have started arriving in Alappuzha Block Panchayat to vote. Voters are standing in queues at booth numbers 77, 78, 79 and 80.
BJP candidate R contesting from Vattiyoorkavu. Sreelekha voted early at its 209 polling stations citing busy schedules. “I have full confidence in the results, which reflect the confidence of the candidates on polling day. The scale of the election process is huge,” he said.
Whereas in Malappuram, IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty said, “Wait, this time UDF will definitely come to power. All indications show that the majority is in favor of UDF. They are expected to get a clear and decisive majority.”
Additional booths have been set up in select districts to control crowds, while 352 women polling stations and 37 booths run by persons with disabilities highlight inclusive electoral efforts. Additionally, 884 model polling stations have been set up. More than 76,000 police personnel have been deployed across the state, including special police officers, central forces and units from neighboring Tamil Nadu.
Around 2,500 booths have been declared sensitive, where prohibitory orders and strict surveillance are in place. Voting is taking place in Kerala in what is considered to be one of the most talked about elections of recent times and this day is not only a democratic process but also a clear expression of the will of the people.
–IANS
OP/VC
