Eight candidates are in the fray, but the fight is mainly between three major fronts being represented by Uma Thomas, Jo Joseph and AN Radhakrishnan.
Eight candidates are in the fray, but the fight is mainly between three major fronts being represented by Uma Thomas, Jo Joseph and AN Radhakrishnan.
Voters queued up in front of most polling stations as rain remained away as 8% of voters cast their votes in the by-election in the opening hour itself. Trikkakara Assembly Constituency on 31st May.
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of senior Congress leader PT Thomas, who represented Thrikkakara twice, on December 22, 2021.
Of the three candidates, Mr. UDF candidate Uma ThomasThe wife of late Congress MLA PT Thomas first cast her vote at around 7.10 am at a booth in the Palarivattam pipeline near her house. She had come to the booth after offering prayers at a nearby temple and church.
Leaving the booth, Ms. Thomas exuded confidence to register an impressive victory. “PT’s soul is with me hence the blessings and prayers of the people of Thrikkakara. Everything seems favorable including nature. I want to complete the development works in the constituency as the successor of PT.
LDF candidate Joe Joseph and his wife Daya Pascal cast their vote at booth number 140 in Government LP School Padamugal. After 7.30 am, they had to queue for about 30 minutes due to the long queue before casting their vote.
“I am 100% sure of victory. Confidence was built right from the very first day of campaigning and it has been increasing since then. There are reports that there has been a long queue of voters at all the booths since morning. The sky is clear like my heart. The LDF has done a disciplined job and there is no doubt a big victory,” said Dr Joseph, who earlier in the morning predicted a troubled victory, recalling the UDF’s recent defeats in his strongholds Vattoyurkavu and Koni.
Ms Pascal, who was in the news even after she came out openly against the fake video targeting her husband during the campaign, expressed confidence that the people of Thrikkakara would vote for ‘positive politics’.
NDA candidate AN Radhakrishnan He has no vote as he is a voter in the neighboring Ernakulam assembly constituency. “There are strong (political) undercurrents. There is no doubt about an upset victory. I am in Kerala Legislative Assembly. I will succeed Rajagopal.
He indirectly recalled the recent controversial Popular Front of India rally in Alappuzha and said that there is an atmosphere of fear in view of the alleged open threats against certain communities.
He said that former MLA PC George is being crucified by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition VD Satishan who are with the extremists.
Exiting a booth in Panampilly Nagar with his wife after casting their vote, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden said Ms Thomas would drive home one of the largest majority. He said, ‘The decision of this by-poll will be a befitting reply to the arrogance and arrogance of the state government. The acceptance for our candidate exceeded all our expectations and reflects the emotional connect of the people of the constituency with the PT,” said Mr Eden, who predicted that the UDF’s lead would cross the 30,000 votes polled during the parliament elections. Will do it
People queue up to cast their vote during Thrikkakara by-election, at St George’s UP School, Chambakkara. , photo credit: Tulsi Kakkat
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Defects in electronic voting machines were reported at booth numbers 95, 105 and 119. Polling has been extended to 45 minutes in booth number 119, which is a women’s booth, as so much time wasted in rectifying the glitch and resuming voting.
Polling is being held at 239 booths in the urban area. The total number of voters is 1, 96, 805. About 1, 01, 530 voters are female while the number of male voters is 95, 274. One voter in this constituency represents the transgender community. More than 3,600 voters are exercising their franchise for the first time. Voting will end by 6 pm
Around 1,000 police personnel are on duty to ensure peaceful elections. There are no sensitive or important polling stations. Although India Meteorological Department has predicted rain in ErnakulamCampaign managers are confident that the turnout percentage will increase compared to the previous elections.
The average voting percentage in Thrikkakara was around 73% in the three elections held since 2011, when the constituency came into existence. The highest turnout in the urban constituency was recorded in 2016 (74.71%). In the election held in 2021, the voter turnout was 70.39%.
The by-election had garnered unprecedented public and media attention as it turned into a prestige battle between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan. This was the first by-election in the second term of the Left government as Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan himself took the lead to lead the campaign. For Mr. Satheesan, the fight became crucial as the Congress party’s state unit had K.K. This was the first major electoral test after the Sudhakaran-VD Satheesan leadership combination.