Record turnout in Aruvikkara

In a record turnout, an estimated 76.31 per cent voters excercised their franchise in the Aruvikkara Assembly bypoll, which saw ruling Congress-led UDF and opposition CPI(M)-headed LDF locked in a fierce battle.
However, the figure is only provisional and the final percentage has not yet been released by state election authorities.
The polling percentage stood at 76.31 per cent against that of 70.61 in the 2011 Assembly elections,
Right since polling began at 7 AM this morning, there was a large turnout in almost all the 154 polling stations.In some booths, people were allowed to vote even after 5 PM.

Despite heavy rains lashing the constituency since morning, there was a large turnout of voters, including women, who comprise 97,533 Of the total electorate of 1,84,210.
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of former Speaker G Karthikeyan, who represented the segment (previously known as Aryanad), in the state assembly from 1991-2015.

In a three-cornered contest, UDF candidate K S Sabarinath, younger son of Karthikeyan was pitted against former Speaker and ex-minister M Vijaykumar (LDF) and former Union Minister O Rajagopal of the BJP.
To add glamour, film stars and television actors, including Kushboo, Suresh Gopi and Innocent, MP, had hit the campaign trail.

The fierce campaign, launched by the two fronts, had turned nasty at times with strong words being used by the rivals to attack each other.
The bypoll is a crucial test for both the fronts as panchayat polls are to be held later this year and assembly polls are just a year away.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the poll outcome would be a referendum on the government's performance in the past four years, while the opposition expressed confidence that the electorate would deal a heavy blow to the ruling front, which was facing various allegations.
During the campaign UDF harped on development projects it had initiated, while LDF attacked the ruling front over various corruption allegations, including solar and bar bribery scams.

The counting will be held on June 30.