Voting for crucial electoral contests began at 7 am on Thursday in the states of Assam and Kerala as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Election Commission has made arrangements for free, fair and smooth voting.
Voters stood in queues outside polling stations to cast their votes in the single-phase assembly elections.
In this phase of elections, voting will be held on 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry. Voting will be held in Tamil Nadu on 23 April, in West Bengal on 23 and 29 April. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
Over 26 lakh voters will decide the fate of 883 candidates in 140 constituencies in Kerala. Of the 2,69,53,644 voters registered across the state, 1,38,27,319 are female voters and the number of male voters is 1,31,26,048.
Officials said 277 voters have been registered in the ‘third gender’ category. Of the voters, about 4,24,518 voters are in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters are 85 years of age and above.
A total of 30,471 polling stations have been set up to ensure safe and smooth voting, including 119 logistics and voter machine distribution centers and 41 counting centres.
Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Ratan U Kelkar on Tuesday said 1.46 lakh trained polling personnel have been sent to polling stations.
“As part of the preparations for the Kerala Assembly elections, we have a total of 27 lakh voters, of which 53,984 are service voters… We will count the votes in 140 strong rooms and 43 locations. We have 14.6 lakh polling personnel who have been trained and will be sent to all polling stations,” he said.
He further said, “FIRs have been registered against 180 people in connection with election-related activities and more than 1,200 police teams are actively working in the field… We are ensuring that all the new initiatives of the Election Commission are properly implemented.”
While the election is being seen as a contest between the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF, the BJP-led NDA, which is gaining vote share, is also hopeful about its prospects in the southern state.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has 99 seats in the current assembly and is aiming to come to power for the third consecutive time on the basis of its performance and welfare schemes. The LDF created a record in 2021 when it retained power in the southern state, which has seen transfers of power between the CPI(M) and Congress-led alliances for decades.
More than 25 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise for the 126-member assembly in Assam. 722 candidates are in the fray in this election.
Out of 2,50,54,463 voters, 1,25,31,552 are male voters and 1,25,22,593 are female voters. There are 318 voters in the transgender category and 63,423 voters in the service sector.
Of the voters, 6,42,314 voters are in the age group of 18-19 years, 2,50,006 voters are above 80 years of age and 2,05,085 voters are disabled.
Webcasting facilities have been arranged as per the instructions of the Commission to strengthen the monitoring mechanism, a release said.
Webcasting facility has been provided at all 31,490 polling stations, including 31,486 main polling stations and 4 auxiliary polling stations. A total of 1,51,132 polling personnel have been deployed to conduct the elections.
41,320 ballot boxes, 43,975 control units and 43,997 VVPAT machines, including units reserved for emergency use, have been provided for voting. Additional polling personnel have also been kept ready if required.
The Congress has formed a six-party alliance to take on the ruling BJP-led NDA, which is trying to come to power for the third consecutive time.
10,14,070 voters in Puducherry are eligible to cast their votes for the elections to the 30-member Legislative Assembly.
This voter category includes 5,39,125 female voters, 4,74,788 male voters and 157 voters belonging to the third gender category.
Of the total voters, 24,156 voters belong to the age group of 18-19 years, while 6,034 voters belong to the senior citizen category, aged 85 years and above.
Speaking to ANI, Puducherry Chief Electoral Officer P Jawahar said that 110 sector officers have been deployed at 1,099 polling centres, of which 209 centers have been categorized as sensitive.
He further said that after the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, air squads and helplines are being used to keep track of violations. “The Election Department of Puducherry has made elaborate arrangements through its district and returning officers. The logistics are crucial, whereby polling teams and material are being delivered to the polling stations on time. The process is being monitored by drones and 110 sector officers at 1,099 polling stations… Multi-layered measures have been taken for security. Of these, 209 polling stations have been placed in the sensitive category, where Central Armed Police Forces along with local police have been deployed to prevent incidents. Have been deployed.”
He further added, “The code of conduct is strictly followed during the 48-hour silence period. Promotional campaigns are banned, liquor shops are closed and promotions are strictly monitored. Drones, air squads and helplines are used to keep a real-time monitor on violations… Technology plays a vital role, especially in areas like Mahe and Yanam, which are far away from Puducherry. Live footage taken by drones from these areas is captured in 4K quality. Is seen.”
In Puducherry, the contest is between the ruling NDA (comprising NR Congress and BJP) and the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay’s party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) is trying to make the contest triangular.
The tenure of the Assembly is going to end on June 15.