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Urban Ernakulam registers increase in voter turnout

KOCHI: Urban Ernakulam witnessed a higher voter turnout than the rural areas in the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday.


An analysis of the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency showed that Kochi and Ernakulam assembly segments recorded a higher polling percentage, breaking the notion that the urban electorate are reluctant to visit their polling booths.






While Ernakulam assembly constituency polled73.28%,up 5%from thatof 2014, Kochi recorded showed an upswing of 7% to 75.2% from 2014’s 68.6%.

Election commission officials attributed the increase in urban polling largely to the awareness campaign held under Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.

“We gave more thrust to city areas under the SVEEP programme to bring the residents to polling booths. We conducted the awareness and other programmes in shipyard, colleges, public sector institutions, private institutions, Smart City and other institutions. We also roped in residents’ associations under the programme. This might have brought city voters to polling booths,” said Shajahan, election deputy collector in Ernakulam.

When the final list of voter turnout came on Wednesday, Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency recorded 77.54% polling, an increase of 4% from the previous 73.58%.

Paravur assembly constituency polled better thoughtheincreasein voter turnout over the previous poll was less. The segment recorded 81.68%, an increase of 2% from 79.14% in 2014 Kalamassery, Thrikkakara and Vypeen assembly constituencies recorded an individual increase of 4% compared to 2014. Four other assembly constituencies in the district, but falling under Chalakkudy Lok Sabha constituency, recorded a slight increase in polling compared to 2014. The least increase in 14 assembly constituenciesin thedistrictwas recordedin Angamaly. The assembly constituency recorded an increase of 1% with 79.99% voter turnout. In the last general election, Angamaly had registered 78.65% voter turnout.


Aluva and Kunnathunad assembly constituencies recorded an increase of 2% and 3%, respectively.


Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha constituencies in Idukki Lok Sabha constituency also fared well in the general election on Tuesday. Both constituencies recorded an increase of 5%. Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha recorded an increase of 5.83% and 5%, respectively.


Piravom assembly constituency, which fall under Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency recorded an increase of 2%--75.12% compared to 73.01% in 2014.

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