Despite all the talks and campaigning leading to the Pala bye-polls which concluded on Monday, there was a significant dip in the polling percentage this year as compared to the 2016 assembly elections. The bye-polls which took place following the demise of UDF leader KM Mani, saw a total polling percentage of 71.43% as opposed to the 77.25% in 2016 assembly polls.
According to the Election Commission numbers as of 6 pm on Monday, around 1,27,939 voters out of the total number of 1,79,107 voters, had voted. Out of the total number of people who voted, 65,203 persons were males while the remaining 62,736 persons were females.
As per the official numbers, the polling percentages at 8 am was recorded to be 8.71, 15.57 as of 9 am, 22.95 as of 10 am, 30.93 as of 11 am, 39.12 as of 12 am, 46.03 as of 1 pm, 51.76 as of 2 pm, 57.61 as of 3 pm, 63.40 as of 4 pm, 68.62 as of 5 pm.
Following the polling, candidates of all the major political fronts exuded confidence of winning. According to a report by The New Indian Express (TNIE), Mani C Kappan, the LDF candidate, said that he was sure of winning the polls. He was quoted by TNIE as saying, “The fall or rise in polling per cent would not affect LDF prospect. Several factors favour LDF including the absence of a towering candidate like KM Mani. I will win with a resounding majority.”
On the other hand, UDF candidate Jose Tom said that although the polling was not recorded as expected, the overall trend in Pala was in favour of the UDF as the people wanted a “UDF representative to follow the footsteps of KM Mani”.
