Voting in the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry concluded at 6 pm on Thursday.

The approximate polling trends for voter turnout in Assam was at 85.4%, according to data from the Election Commission. Kerala recorded a 78% turnout while Puducherry saw 89.8%.

The numbers are expected to rise as the poll panel revises figures based on inputs from several booths.

This was the highest ever voter turnout recorded in Assam’s electoral history. In the Assembly elections held in 2021, the state had recorded a total voter turnout of 82%.

All constituencies in the two states and the Union Territory are being covered in a single phase. The polling began at 7 am. The votes will be counted on May 4.

In Assam, more than 1.5 lakh security personnel have been deployed to cover 31,940 polling stations in the 126 constituencies, PTI reported.

There are about 2.5 crore electors in the state, including 6.4 lakh first-time voters.

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In Kerala, more than 880 candidates are in the fray for the 140 constituencies. About 2.7 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the state.

The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front is seeking a rare third consecutive term, facing off against the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Democratic Alliance.

In Puducherry, 9.5 lakh voters are choosing from 294 candidates in 30 constituencies.

The NDA, which is led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s All India NR Congress in the Union Territory, is aiming to retain power. It is facing candidates from the Opposition INDIA bloc mainly comprising the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Ahead of the polls, the Election Commission conducted a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories including Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.

The final voter lists have now been published, but the exercise has been contentious. Following the revision process in Bihar conducted last year, concerns had been raised that eligible voters might be removed from the rolls. Several petitioners had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the process.

Bye-elections were also held in Karnataka (Bagalkot and Davangere South), Nagaland (Koridang) and Tripura.

Polling in Goa’s Ponda constituency, initially scheduled for Thursday, was cancelled on Wednesday by the Bombay High Court, which noted that the term of the Assembly will end in less than a year.

The 2021 results

In the previous Assembly polls in Assam, the BJP-led NDA had won a clear majority. It won 75 seats of the 126-member Assembly. The Opposition Mahajot alliance comprising the Congress, the Left and the All India United Democratic Front had won 50 seats.

After the polls, BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma had become the chief minister, replacing Sarbananda Sonowal.

In Kerala, the LDF had broken a 44-year trend of incumbents losing power. The alliance picked up 99 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The Congress-led United Democratic Front had won 41.

In Puducherry, the NDA, comprising the All India NR Congress and the BJP, had defeated the United Progressive Alliance of the Congress and the DMK. N Rangaswamy of the NR Congress became the chief minister.

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