Malappuram, June 19 (UNI) A voter turnout of 41 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Thursday for the Nilambur assembly constituency by-poll where a quadrilateral electoral battle was going on.
Key rivals from the ruling LDF and opposition UDF -- M Swaraj and Aryadan Shoukath respectively -- expressed confidence in their respective victories, while BJP candidate Mohan George claimed that voters were seeking change.
Meanwhile, former MLA, PV Anvar, contesting as an Independent, also asserted that he was confident of a clear win with strong support from the people.
Long queues were seen at polling booths at remote and urban areas indicating active voter participation.The election process was going on in a free and peaceful manner barring a few technical issues. A malfunction in four EVMs and a VVPAT machine at the Thonikadavu (booth number 2)near Vazhikkadavu was promptly rectified by election officials.
The voter turnout picked up slowly with only 8 per cent at 8.30 am and it rose to 13 per cent at 9pm in the first two hours. It rose to 30 per cent at 12.30 pm and 41 per cent at 1 pm. The previous election in 2016 saw polling at 76 per cent.
UNI AK PRS