Thiruvananthapuram records the lowest polling | Local body poll Phase I

High turnout of voters was recorded in the first phase of local body polls in five districts of Kerala namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki .
The polling percentage in the state as of 6.08 pm on Tuesday was as 72.03 pc
District-wise voting percentages were as follows
Thiruvananthapuram: 69.7 pc
Kollam was 72.79.
Pathanamthitta: 69.33pc
Alappuzha: 76.42 pc
Idukki: 73.99 pc
Tvm Corportation: 59.02 and Kollam Corporation 65.11pc

Long queues of voters were seen at most of the polling booths in the five districts. In certain areas, the voting process was disrupted due to technical glitches in voting machines.

Compared to previous elections record turnout was witnessed in most of the places. However Thiruvananthapuram recorded the lowest polling as per the updates available at 6:8 pm on Tuesday.

Two persons collapsed and died while waiting in queue for voting. Puttuparambil Mattayi from Pathanamthitta and Balan, a native of Mahadevikadu in Alappuzha are the deceaced. Many took part in the voting process ignoring age-related ailments and other restrictions. Even though the voters used facemasks and sanitisers, they were not able to follow the social distancing norms in many areas.

Meanwhile, a woman official was removed from poll duty in Kollam after she was found to be wearing a face mask with CPM poll symbol.

Supporters of Kollam District Congress Committee officially registered their protest even as the official changed her face mask.

State Election Commission later directed the Kollam District Collector to relieve her from her duty at booth number 1 at Johns Cashew factory near Kollam.

Polling began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. The results will decide the fate of 24,584 candidates.
The second phase of the polls will be held on December 10 and the last phase will be on December 14. The result will be out on December 16.