Polling progressing in Malappuram peacefully

MALAPPURAM: The polling process of the byelection to the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency is progressing peacefully.
According to the statistics of election commission, 31.81% voter turnout recorded in the constituency by 11am. The polling percentages of all seven assembly segments of the constituency have crossed 30% and Malappuram assembly segment has recorded 32.4 percentage voter turnout.The polling percentage of other segments of the constituency are Kondotty-31.8, Manjeri -33.5, Perinthalmanna-32.3, Mankada-30.8, Vengara-31 and Vallikkunnu-30.9.
Polling began at 7am at brisk note and majority of the booths recorded around 10% voter turnout in first one hour. The voting process marred in 12 booths in various parts of the constituency due to malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs). But the issues were resolved by 9am.
IUML’s P K Kunhalikkutty, CPM’s M B Faisal and BJP’s N Sreeprakash are the main contenders in the election. After casting vote at AMUP School Panakkad, the UDF candidate P K Kunhalikkutty said that the party will register a shining victory with increased number of majority this time. The state president of IUML Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal also accompanied him. After casting his vote at Mullambara UP School in Manjeri, the senior CPM leader T K Hamsa said that the party candidate will register a surprise victory in Malappuram, similar to that of LDF’s victory in the constituency in 2004. LDF candidate M B Faisal also said that the secular mind of Malappuram would reflect in the election result.