The Malappuram and Ponnani Lok Sabha constituencies witnessed more than 74% polling as the State went to the polls on Tuesday.
Although the polling in the initial hours was breezy, voting slowed down by afternoon only to be given a last-hour push.
There were long queues of voters outside several booths even after the polling time ended at 6 p.m. Officials said the polling percentage would change as the final figures would be available by late night.
The following was the percentage of voter turnout in Assembly segments of the Malappuram constituency at 6 p.m.: Kondotty (71.96%), Manjeri (71.21%), Perinthalmanna (69.74%), Mankada (69.82%), Malappuram (72.18 %), Vengara (67.56%), and Vallikkunnu (72.44%).
The following was the percentage of voter turnout in the Assembly segments of the Ponnani constituency at 6 p.m.: Tirurangadi (68.11%), Tanur (67.14%), Tirur (67.67%), Kottakkal (69.35%), Tavanur (65.98%), Ponnani (64.82%), and Thrithala (72.57%).
Polling had to be stopped at many booths because of technical hitches.
Cherumukku
When it took 20 to 40 minutes at most places to replace the faulty voting machines, the 87th booth at Cherumukku west in the Ponnani constituency witnessed the worst delay.
Voters, most of them women, returned home after having stood in the sun for over an hour.
Although the machine was replaced at Cherumukku, it soon got faulty, causing confusion and concerns among the voters and officials alike.
UDF candidate in Ponnani E.T. Mohammed Basheer polled his vote at Government LP School, Mapprom, in Vazhakkad grama panchayat of the Malappuram constituency.
LDF candidate in Ponnani P.V. Anvar cast his vote at Perakamanna Madrasa, Othayi, near Edavanna.
NDA candidate in Ponnani V.T. Rama cast her vote at Government Higher Secondary School, Kumaranallur.
Leaders who cast votes
SDPI candidate in Ponnani K.C. Naseer cast his vote at MMALP School, Chelur, near Tirur.
UDF candidate in Malappuram P.K. Kunhalikutty cast his vote at CKMM ALP School, Panakkad, along with Indian Union Muslim League State president Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal and district president Sayed Sadikali Shihab Thangal.
Candidates
LDF candidate in Malappuram V.P. Sanu cast his vote at Hayathul Islam Madrasa, Pandikasala, near Valanchery.
NDA candidate in Malappuram V. Unnikrishnan cast his vote at GLP School, Kanmanam.
SDPI candidate in Malappuram Abdul Majeed Faizi cast his vote at Government UP School, Pullur, near Malappuram.
Minister for Higher Education K.T. Jaleel cast his vote at GMLP School, Kattipparuthi, Valanchery. Former minister T. Sivadasa Menon cast his vote at Government LP School, Vayapparapadi, Manjeri. LDF candidate in Wayanad P.P. Suneer cast his ballot at AMLP School, Parichakam, Marancheri.
