Polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry witnessed strong voter participation on Thursday, with turnout figures by 5 pm reflecting robust engagement across all three states and the Union Territory.
Puducherry topped the charts with an estimated 86.92 per cent turnout, followed by Assam at 84.42 per cent and Kerala at 75.01 per cent, as per official data.
Assam Edges Past 2021 Record
Assam recorded an estimated 84.42 per cent voter turnout by 5 pm across all 126 Assembly constituencies surpassing the 82.04 per cent registered during the 2021 state elections, officials said. The single-phase election saw voting conducted at 31,490 polling stations spread across 35 districts, running from 7 am to 5 pm, with 722 candidates in contention.
Among individual constituencies, Dalgaon logged the highest turnout at 94.57 per cent, while Amri recorded the lowest at 70.40 per cent. The election is being closely watched as the BJP-led NDA pushes for a third consecutive term in the state, while the Congress party is working to return to power after a decade out of office.
Kerala Inches Ahead of 2021 Figures
In Kerala, voting for all 140 Assembly seats concluded at 6 pm. Voters who were present in queues at the time of closing were issued tokens and permitted to cast their ballots. By 5 pm, the state had registered a turnout of 75.01 per cent, marginally ahead of the 74.06 per cent recorded in the 2021 Assembly elections. Final turnout numbers are expected once all queued voters complete the process.
Puducherry Crosses 86% Mark
Polling across 30 Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory of Puducherry also wrapped up at 6 pm, with voters who arrived before the deadline allowed to remain in queues and vote. Initial estimates placed turnout above 86 per cent. The NDA is seeking to hold on to power in the Union Territory, while a Congress-led opposition bloc is attempting to dislodge the AINRC-led front, anchoring its campaign on local autonomy and administrative grievances.