Kochi: The State Election Commission has said that there were no circumstances to postpone the voting for the byelection in Ernakulam Assembly constituency despite heavy rain disrupting normal life in the Kochi city.
Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena told reporters that postponement of polling could only be the last option if there's a situation wherein voting becomes impossible.
"It has been raining in Kochi since night and water has entered some polling booths. However, there's no alarming situation. We have made all arrangements to conduct polling smoothly," he said.
He said a final call would be taken after examining reports from returning officers, presiding officers and general observers concerned.
He said ten booths in Ernakulam constituency had been shifted to first floors from ground floors.
Voting time will be extended after 6 pm, the deadline to finish polling, if there's a proposal to do so, Meena said, seeking the cooperation of the people to conduct voting in a smooth manner.
Ernakulam has recorded only nearly 9 per cent voting until 11 am even as the figure was about to touch 20 per cent in the remaining four constituencies.
Meena said there isn't an issue in the other four constituencies going to polls on Monday. Apart from Ernakulam bypolls are being held in Vattiyoorkavu, Konni, Aroor and Manjeshwram.
Roads in places such as Edappally, Palarivattom, Kaloor, Vyttila and Panampilly Nagar were waterlogged in the morning, causing trouble to motorists and pedestrians alike. Private buses had stopped services on several routes.
