A healthy voter turnout averaging 80 per cent on Thursday in three States, including Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, has triggered speculation whether the incumbent party retains power or a new dispensation emerges victorious. Political pundits and those in the electoral fray are analyzing the voting pattern to gauge the electorate’s decision now sealed in the poll box. While some believe heavy voting signals that people want a change, others opine that the citizens are happy with the performance of the ruling party or combine.
According to the latest figures from the Election Commission, an estimated 85.38 per cent voter turnout was recorded as polling ended at 6 PM on Thursday in all 126 assembly constituencies of Assam, surpassing the previous 84.67 per cent voting in the 2016 elections. Keralam saw 77.38 per cent of the 2.71 crore voters had cast their vote, surpassing the previous 74.06 percent in 2021. The State has seen 80.5 per cent in the 1987 Assembly elections. Puducherry recorded 89.83 percent polling, surpassing the previous highest 86.19 percent in 2011. Most political leaders from various parties voted early in the day.