The high polling in all the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State has virtually put all political parties on tenterhooks considering the emotive issues that figured during the campaign and the competitive nature of the electoral contest this time.
Significantly, it goes to the credit of Kerala’s electorate that the polling passed off peacefully despite a hard fought campaign, which at times became vituperative and venomous and even ominously verged on violence on election eve.
Political parties had their own interpretations of the high percentage of polling but had no differences that the higher turnout represented the strength of democratic base in Kerala.
Voting extended
Never before in the recent past has polling booths in Kerala witnessed heavy voting throughout the day and at several places the time of polling had to be extended. There were complaints about non-functional electronic voting machines in some areas, but in places such as Thiruvananthapuram, the last-minute queues could have been triggered by a sunny and salubrious evening.
Going by polling percentages and the results in previous elections, the State had witnessed higher turnout whenever there was a value for anti-incumbency. The anti-incumbency could cut in every manner and is equally applicable to the Central and State governments and also Members of Parliament who are seeking re-election.
It has been conclusively established during electioneering that the Sabarimala issue and the anti-Narendra Modi factor would impact the electoral outcome in the State.
Contrary to the general assessment that the minority communities would vote against the Modi government, there were several people cutting across caste and religious lines stridently opposed to the Centre for its economic policies that have affected the State.
Emotive issues
These issues are definitely emotive issues that could influence the attitude of voters irrespective of their status as majority or minority communities.
The presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad too was touted as a game changer since it was generally believed that his strong and consistent opposition to Mr. Modi would attract communities across the electoral spectrum.
Polling percentages in northern Kerala have been as usual been on the higher side.
In Kannur, the higher percentage is only reflective of the competitive politics of the district where the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has roots that run deep. The higher turnout in Wayanad was only expected because of the presence of a VVIP candidate.
The Sabarimala issue seems to be one of the factors that has attracted more people to the polling booths in southern Kerala in general, but specifically in Pathanamthitta, Attingal, Kollam, Kottayam, and Thiruvananthapuram, which registered a increase of 3 to 7 percentage points when compared to the 2014 elections.