Polling in the Assembly elections held on Thursday in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry witnessed a strong voter turnout amid tight security measures and minimal law-and-order issues. Puducherry recorded the highest turnout at 89.08%, followed by Assam at 85.04% and Kerala at 77.38%. By-elections also took place in Bagalkot and Davanagere South in Karnataka, Koridang in Nagaland, and Dharmanagar in Tripura.
The voter turnout this year has already exceeded the figures from 2021, with Puducherry, Assam, and Kerala showing higher participation rates. Notably, the turnout in 2021 was slightly lower compared to 2016. Throughout Thursday, the voter participation increased steadily after a moderate start in the morning, with long queues observed at polling booths in all three states.
In a heartwarming moment, a newly married couple cast their votes at the HMT School polling station in Kerala’s Ernakulam. Additionally, a robot was spotted welcoming voters at the VOC Government School Higher Secondary School in Puducherry, adding a unique touch to the election process. The elections covered 140 seats in Kerala, 126 in Assam, and 30 in Puducherry, with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal scheduled for later phases.
Security arrangements were robust, with a focus on preventing any disruptions at polling stations. Instances of illicit materials seizure, minor technical glitches in EVMs, and queue disturbances were swiftly addressed by the authorities. The day remained largely peaceful, with no major law-and-order issues reported by the evening.
