THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The southern districts in Kerala reported a stark decline in voting percentage, leaving political parties and pundits guessing its impact in this election.
Pathanamthitta, the cauldron of agitations against tweaking tradition and customs in Sabarimala, recorded a voter turnout of only 67.18%. The hilly district had recorded 72.53% during 2016 elections. The poll percentage in 2011, when UDF government came to power, was 71.66.
Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram – that witnessed a fierce triangular fight between BJP, CPM and Congress in Nemom and a close contest between CPM and BJP at Kazhakkoottam and Vattiyoorkavu – too witnessed a comparativelylower turn out.
Polling percentage also came down in Kollam where deep-sea fishing controversy was one of the major poll issues. The district recorded 71.4% against 75.7% in 2016. There could be a slight increase in the final figures as postal votes and service votes have not been included while calculating the turnout.
The polling percentage in Thiruvananthapuram stood at 70.1% against 72.53% in 2016. In 2011, the district recorded a voter turnout of 75.12%. While voter turnout in Nemom and Kazhakkoottam stood at 69.8% and 69.63%, the same was 64.16% and 61.92% in Vattiyoorkavu and Thiruvananthapuram central constituencies where BJP had finished second in the assembly election in 2016.
The seats are currently held by LDF and UDF respectively. While UDF and NDA claimed advantage citing Sabarimala issue, which snowballed into a major poll issue, the LDF is equally confident of its chances in most of their sitting seats in the district. LDF holds 10 of the 14 seats in the district, UDF has three and NDA one.
In Kollam, Chavara and Karunagappally reported higher turnout. On the entire coastal belt people came out in large numbers with enthusiasm to cast their votes. Last time, LDF had won all 11 seats. Now, UDF is more confident of making major gains. UDF camp feels that the slight dip in voter turnout won’t be much of a problem.
The district witnessed some undercurrents and this could affect the ultimate poll outcome. Tight fights were witnessed at Kundara, Chavara, Kollam, Chathannur and Kottarakara. One of the notable features of the polling trend in the district was the visible slackness in BJP camps in Kundara and Iravipuram where NDA fielded BDJS candidates.
In Pathanamthitta, Pathanapuram constituency – from where KB Ganesh Kumar of KC(B) contested – faced a spirited fight from Congress candidate Jyothikumar Chamakkala. Adoor witnessed a high turnout of 71.19% by the close of polling. In Konni, where BJP state president K Surendran contested the voter turnout was 71.2%. The constituencies of Ranni, Thiruvalla and Aranmula, where voter turnout was moderate, witnessed peaceful polling.
In 2016 polls, LDF had won all five seats in the UDF citadel. But this time, the district is giving the impression that UDF would bounce back in some of the five seats. One will have to wait till the counting day to know whether Sabarimala issue had a significant impact on polls in the district where the temple is situated.