Kerala local body ward bypolls record 58.81% turnout, counting on Tuesday

Bypolls to 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 electors cast their votes, comprising 98,090 women and 84,070 men.

Counting of the ballots will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at multiple centres. The results, which are being watched closely as the first electoral exercise since the United Democratic Front assumed power in the State in May, will be available through the TREND link on the commission's website, www.sec.kerala.gov.in.

Polling varied widely across districts. Kannur recorded the highest turnout at 84.55%, while Kottayam registered the lowest at 54.25%. Among the two Corporation wards that went to the polls, Ayyappankavu in Kochi Corporation saw 46.91% polling and Kuttichira in Kozhikode Corporation recorded 54.36%.

As many as 126 candidates contested the byelections, spread over 12 districts. The wards included two Corporation wards, three municipality wards, three district panchayat wards, seven block panchayat wards and 23 grama panchayat wards.