Hans News Service Thiruvananthapuram

Votingconcluded at 6 pm on Thursday in Kerala, with a strong turnout recorded in the elections to constitute the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly after an intense month-long campaign by the ruling LDF, Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA.

The updated figures released at 7 pm by the Election Commission show a turnout of 77. 45 per cent, higher than the 74.06 per cent polling seen in the 2021 Assembly elections. The polling process was largely peaceful, with only minor technical issues reported at a few locations. Polling was held across all 140 constituencies in the state, with over 2.71 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise.

Officials said the final turnout is expected to rise further as late voters in queues are counted. If the trend continues, the overall turnout could cross 80.54 per cent registered in 1987. Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll had an impact on turnout. He said the polling process was largely smooth and peaceful across the state.

Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies ended at 5 pm , with an estimated voter turnout of 85.21 per cent, surpassing the previous figure of 82.04 per cent in the 2021 elections, officials said. The polling percentage was expected to rise further as people who had entered the booths before 5 pm would be allowed to vote, they said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the high voter turnout as ''not ordinary but historic".

According to initial estimates, the polling percentage has crossed 86 per cent in Puducherry. As the NDA is fighting to retain power, the opposition Congress-led bloc is pushing to wrest power from the AINRC-led front in the union territory, centering its campaign on local autonomy and administrative friction.