National Headlines
Mixed Voting Trends Across Kerala; Urban Areas Lag Behind
Thiruvananthapuram: Northern Kerala once again witnessed relatively strong participation. Districts such as Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram reported turnout levels nearing or crossing 70 percent in previous elections, with constituencies like Vengara (69.88%) and Ponnani (69.63%) reflecting consistent voter engagement.
Interestingly, other constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram district – such as Vattiyoorkavu, Nemom and Kazhakoottam – have shown signs of improvement. Vattiyoorkavu, which had one of the lowest turnouts in the last election at 64.15%, recorded 52.01% voting till 1.00 PM , indicating a positive shift.
Across the state, early morning polling percentages present a mixed picture. Constituencies like Palakkad reported 51.27% turnout till 1.30 PM, while Kundamangalam and Kuttiadi — known for high polling in 2021 — showed moderate early participation this time. Manjeswaram recorded 45.52, reflecting a slower start.
Meanwhile, constituencies such as Thrikkakkara, Thrissur, Kochi and Aranmula reported relatively lower turnout in the initial hours, continuing the trend of urban voter apathy. However, officials expect the numbers to improve as the day progresses.