High turnout for Malappuram bypoll

71.50 per cent voter turnout, a rise of .23 per cent from the last polling figures, was registered in the  Lok Sabha constituency on Wednesday
IUML leaders Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal and Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal along with party candidate  P K Kunhalikutty after casting votes at Panakkad CKMMALPS on Wednesday | A Sanesh
IUML leaders Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal and Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal along with party candidate P K Kunhalikutty after casting votes at Panakkad CKMMALPS on Wednesday | A Sanesh

MALAPPURAM : Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency on Wednesday witnessed a high voter turnout of 71.50 per cent, a rise of .23 pc from the last polling figures. Braving the scorching sun, voters moved out of their house in droves to exercise their franchise. 


The voting began at 7 am under tight security put in place in light of the volatile political atmosphere. Though the Election Commission marked a total of 31 booths politically sensitive and 42 others critical, the polling was peaceful.

An elderly woman after casting vote 
at St Gemma’s HSS in Malappuram on 
Wednesday | A Sanesh


Kondotty (71.5 per cent), Malappuram (70.6 per cent) and Manjeri (69.2 per cent) Assembly segments saw a higher voter turnout while Vengara constituency, where Kunhalikutty is the MLA, registered the lowest polling with 65.6 per cent. Vallikkunnu (67.9 per cent), Perinthalmanna (67.4 per cent), and Mankada(66.9 per cent) recorded a decent voter turnout. 


Will give a shock treatment to govt, says  Kunhalikutty
UDF candidate P K Kunhalikkutty, who cast his vote at 7 am in the booth set up at AMLP School, Panakkad, exuded confidence over winning the poll with a large majority. “Looking at the ground reality, I believe I can win the election with a decent majority.

I must thank the people who, despite suffering searing heat, came out to vote. The result will surely be a shock treatment to the LDF Government,”said Kunhalikutty. Asked whether he could move past the majority the late E Ahamed had gained last term, the UDF leader said he was not that ambitious enough to make such a statement. “Let’s see. The counting is coming up on Monday. All I can say is the UDF will win with large margin”


LDF will win: T K Hamsa
Former Lok Sabha member T K Hamsa said LDF would repeat the feat it has obtained in 2004 Parliament election. “LDF will go all the way to upset the UDF and win it with a narrow margin,” said Hamsa, who made a surprise victory at Manjeri in 2004. 

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