Kerala decides, 78.27% voter turnout, wait for May 4 result begins

After nearly a month of intense campaigning, polling for all 140 Assembly constituencies concluded on Thursday across 30,495 booths in Kerala, setting the stage for the results on May 4.

According to the Election Commission’s figures at 11.30 pm, the state recorded an overall voter turnout of 78.27%. Palakkad and Kozhikode were the only districts to cross the 80% mark, with Kozhikode leading at 81.35%, while Pathanamthitta reported the lowest turnout at 70.76%. Although polling officially ended at 6 pm, long queues persisted at several booths—particularly in northern Kerala—with tokens issued to ensure all those in line could cast their votes.

Kunnathunad recorded the highest turnout among constituencies at 84.09%, where LDF’s P V Sreenijin is locked in a tight contest with UDF’s V P Sajeendran. In Thiruvananthapuram, Nemom registered 80.62%, with BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, LDF’s V Sivankutty, and UDF’s K S Sabarinadhan in a closely fought contest.

Other constituencies that recorded high turnouts include Kunnamangalam (84.83%) in Kozhikode, Chittur (84.63%) in Palakkad, Aroor (83.35%) in Alappuzha, Ernad (83.27%) in Malappuram, and Mattannur (82.24%) in Kannur. The Palakkad constituency registered 82.33% in a high-profile contest between UDF candidate Ramesh Pisharody and NDA’s Sobha Surendran. Manjeshwar recorded 80.04% in a keen battle between IUML’s sitting MLA A K M Ashraf and BJP’s K Surendran.

The final turnout may see a marginal change as postal votes are yet to be added. Election Commission officials had earlier indicated that the overall turnout could rise further. Kerala’s highest-ever turnout was recorded in 1960 at 85.77%.

Voting witnessed participation from several senior leaders and public figures. After casting his vote, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed confidence that the LDF would return to power with a larger mandate, citing continued public support for its governance and development agenda. CPM state secretary M V Govindan also said the higher turnout signalled a clear advantage for the LDF. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, meanwhile, said the UDF was confident of winning over 100 seats.

Voices from the film industry also reflected varied political opinions. Actor Salim Kumar said the results would bring change in Kerala, while filmmaker Aashiq Abu expressed support for the incumbent government, citing visible progress over the past decade.

Meanwhile, a few issues were also reported during polling. In Kasaragod, BJP district secretary Lokesh Nonda alleged bogus voting at a booth in Kayyar. A similar complaint emerged from Wadakkanchery in Thrissur, where a voter claimed his vote had already been cast through a postal ballot. Minor tensions were reported in Trikaripur after NDA candidate Ravi Kulangara was allegedly prevented from voting, while a verbal altercation broke out between LDF and BJP workers in Adoor.

Technical glitches in voting machines temporarily halted polling for about 45 minutes in Nilambur (Malappuram) and Elanthoor (Pathanamthitta). In another incident, a case was registered against an election agent in Uduma for wearing smart glasses inside a polling booth.

The election has evolved into a closely watched three-way contest. The ruling LDF, which currently holds 99 seats in the 140-member Assembly, is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term. The opposition UDF, with 41 seats, is aiming for a comeback, highlighting anti-incumbency and local issues. The NDA, which has had limited electoral success in the state, is looking to expand its presence in key constituencies.