At 6 p.m. on Thursday, voting in Kerala’s elections ended, marking the conclusion of the democratic process in the state. Despite the official deadline, some polling booths saw voters waiting beyond closing time to cast their ballots. The voter turnout, reported at 75.01% by 5 p.m., is slightly lower than the previous election’s 75.75%.
The state experienced a relatively smooth voting process with minimal incidents reported. As the voting phase ends, all attention now shifts to May 4, the day of counting. The political future of Kerala will be unveiled as the results start pouring in from 8 a.m. onwards. The focus now lies on which party will secure the majority in the State Secretariat for the next five years.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is optimistic about improving its current seat count of 99 in the 140-member Assembly. In contrast, the United Democratic Front (UDF) is confident of a strong comeback and aims to surpass the 100-seat mark. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) anticipates a hung Assembly, presenting a potential shift in Kerala’s political landscape.
