Thiruvananthapur, 13 April (H.S.):

Bringing an end to days of speculation, the Election Commission has officially released the final polling figures for the Kerala Assembly elections, recording an overall voter turnout of 78.27% in the 16th Assembly polls.

Among all constituencies, Kunnamangalam in Kozhikode district registered the highest voter turnout at an impressive 84.83%, reflecting strong voter participation. It was followed by Chittur and Kunnathunad, which recorded the second and third highest polling percentages respectively.

On the other end of the spectrum, Ranni constituency reported the lowest turnout, with 68.99% of voters exercising their franchise, significantly below the state average.

The release of the final polling data comes after a noticeable delay, as the Election Commission had not published the consolidated figures immediately after the conclusion of voting. This led to growing concerns and demands for transparency from the opposition.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan had formally written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging the Commission to make public the detailed polling percentage and data related to postal voting. He emphasized that timely disclosure of such information is crucial to maintaining transparency and public trust in the electoral process.

Responding to these concerns, the Election Commission has now uploaded the comprehensive polling statistics on its official platform, including constituency-wise turnout figures.

The Kerala Assembly elections witnessed enthusiastic participation across the state, with several constituencies recording robust voter engagement. Political observers note that the relatively high turnout could play a decisive role in shaping the electoral outcome.

With the polling process now complete and data made public, attention has shifted to the counting of votes, which will ultimately determine the political future of the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman