Kerala local-body bypolls record 58.81% turnout across 38 wards

By-elections held in 38 local-body wards across Kerala on Monday recorded a voter turnout of 58.81%, State Election Commissioner N. Seshadrinathan said. A total of 1,82,160 voters cast their ballots, including 98,090 women and 84,070 men.

Counting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at centres across the State. The results are being closely watched because the elections are the first local-body bypolls since the United Democratic Front came to power in Kerala in May.

The State Election Commission said the results would be available through the TREND link on its website. Kannur district recorded the highest polling percentage, at 84.55%. Kottayam had the lowest turnout, at 54.25%.

The two corporation wards contested in the bypolls recorded lower participation than the highest district figures. Ayyappankavu in Kochi Corporation recorded a turnout of 46.91%, while Kuttichira in Kozhikode Corporation recorded 54.36%. There were 126 candidates in the contest.

The 38 wards were spread across 12 districts and included two corporation wards, three municipality wards, three district panchayat wards, seven block panchayat wards and 23 grama panchayat wards. The commission released the turnout figures after polling ended and did not provide any results at the time of the report. The counting process will determine the candidates elected from the affected wards.

The figures show variations in participation between different types of local authorities and districts. The commission’s online results service is expected to provide the official outcome once counting is completed.