Malappuram district witnessed brisk polling in the Kerala civic body elections being held on Thursday. The polling started at 7 a.m. on an enthusiastic note, and by 1 p.m., as many as 18.31 lakh voters (50.61 %) cast their ballots.
The district has 36,18,851 voters, including 602 expatriates and 51 transgender persons. As many as 18,78,520 voters are women and 17,40,280 men. When 29,91,292 voters are in panchayats, 6,27,559 voters are in municipalities.
Out of the 15 blocks in the district, Malappuram, Areekode and Mankada blocks polled more than 40% votes within the first five hours. When Malappuram block topped with 41.31% polling by mid-day, Perumpadappu block stood way behind with 35.43% polling.
Of the district’s 12 municipalities, Manjeri recorded the highest mid-day polling at 49.97%, while Ponnani lagged behind with just 37.38%. Among the municipalities in the district, Manjeri has the largest voter base, with 82,902 registered voters.
Voters waiting outside a polling station at GLP School, Pariyapuram, Tanur, on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN
Long queues of voters were seen in front of most polling stations across the district as people came out to use their franchise enthusiastically to select their representatives to either municipalities or the three-tier panchayats.
Elections are being held to 122 civic bodies in the district, including 94 grama panchayats, 12 municipalities and 15 blocks panchayats.
There are 2,789 wards or divisions spread across panchayats and municipalities. Of them, 2,001 are grama panchayat wards, 505 municipal divisions, 250 block panchayat divisions, and 33 district panchayat divisions.
The district has 8,381 candidates for 2,789 wards in 122 civic bodies. When 6,002 candidates are in panchayats, 819 are in block panchayats, 1,434 in municipalities and 126 in district panchayat.
As many as 3,777 of the district’s 4,343 polling stations are in panchayats and 566 in municipalities. Polling in 295 booths were being webcast live. When 277 of them are sensitive booths, 18 are hyper sensitive.
As many as 20,848 officials, including 3,476 reserve personnel, have been on election duty in the district. As many as 5,899 control units and 16,172 ballot units were used for polling in Malappuram.