Over 1.7 lakh vote in Nilambur byelection

Women voters waiting GMUP School, Nilambur, on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SAKKEER HUSSAIN

More than 1.7 lakh voters reached polling booths to choose their Assembly representative in a byelection held in Nilambur on Thursday. At the close of the polling at 6 p.m., there were long queues of voters at several booths waiting for their turn to exercise their franchise.

The fiercely contested byelection, which saw a quadrangular fight involving Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M. Swaraj, United Democratic Front (UDF)‘s Aryadan Shoukath, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)‘s Mohan George and Independent candidate P.V. Anvar, ended peacefully.

According to the Election Commission, 70.76% of the 2.32 lakh voters had exercised their franchise by 5 p.m. The final figures of voter turnout are likely to cross 75%. The polling percentage of the 2021 Assembly election in Nilambur was 75.20.

Polling began on a brisk note at 7 a.m. in 263 polling stations across Nilambur. Three polling booths were inside the forest: at Vaniyampuzha, Punchakolli and Nedumkayam, where tribespeople living in Nilambur forests voted.

While the first two hours registered 13.15% polling, it rose to 30.15% by 11 a.m., 46.73% by 1 p.m., 59.68% by 3 p.m., and 70.76% by 5 p.m.

Polling was delayed at some booths due to faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs). However, election officials addressed the issue by replacing the EVMs.

As many as 1,200 security personnel were deployed for the byelection. Enhanced security was provided for 14 critical booths, including the three stations in tribal areas.

After the polling, voting machines were shifted to the strongroom at Mar Thoma Higher Secondary School, Chungathara, where the votes will be counted on Monday, June 23.

Mr. Swaraj voted at Government LP School, Mankuthu. Mr. Shoukath at Government LP School, Veetikuth, and Mr. George cast his vote at Mar Thoma Higher Secondary School, Chungathara. Mr. Anvar did not have a vote in Nilambur.

Mr. Swaraj and Mr. Shoukath, who are the frontrunners of the electoral battle, met and shared their camaraderie during their visits to polling booths. Talking to media later, both expressed confidence of victory.

It was Mr. Anvar’s resignation as an Independent MLA of the LDF following his disenchantment with the CPI(M) and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan which necessitated the byelection in Nilambur.

Interestingly, Mr. Anvar, who is currently All India Trinamool Congress State convener, is contesting again as an independent. He expressed confidence that he would secure more than 75,000 votes.

Published - June 19, 2025 09:14 pm IST