Chelakkara sees 72.77% turnout, despite minor EVM issues during bypoll
Chelakkara assembly constituency in Thrissur district recorded a voter turnout of 72.77% by 8 pm during the bypoll. The voting process saw residents coming out early across the 177 polling stations in the constituency. A holiday was declared in both Wayanad Lok Sabha and Chelakkara assembly constituencies on account of the bypolls. By 11 am, voter turnout had surged from 14.60% to 29.36%. Election officials noted that this figure was not the final count, with a steady increase throughout the day.
Political Campaigns Heat Up in Chelakkara
The by-election in Chelakkara became a battleground for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), both of which expressed confidence in securing a victory. The constituency, known for its strong agricultural base, is home to many paddy, coconut, and rubber farmers, as well as cultural landmarks like Kerala Kalamandalam in Cheruthuruthy and the Kuthampully handloom village in Thiruvilwamala.
A Long-Standing LDF Stronghold
Chelakkara has traditionally been a stronghold for the LDF, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM holding the seat for over 28 years. This stronghold was recently challenged after LDF candidate K Radhakrishnan, who held the seat since 1998, vacated it following his election to the Lok Sabha. The bypoll was triggered after his move to the national political arena. The CPM fielded U R Pradeep, who had previously held the seat in 2016, while the Congress party nominated Ramya Haridas, a former MP. The BJP also joined the contest with K Balakrishnan as their candidate.
Congress Strives to Reclaim Chelakkara
For Congress, Chelakkara is an important contest, as the seat had once been a key stronghold. Ramya Haridas, who lost her Alathur Lok Sabha seat to Radhakrishnan in April, was eager to reclaim the Chelakkara assembly seat. Despite her loss, she managed to reduce Radhakrishnan’s lead in Chelakkara from 39,400 votes to about 5,000, bringing hope to Congress supporters.
Rising Concerns Over Internal Divisions
However, Congress faced internal tensions that threatened to complicate their efforts. There were concerns within the party that dissatisfaction with Haridas’ candidacy could lead to votes being diverted to BJP candidate K Balakrishnan. Local leaders had shown quieter opposition to Haridas, prompting the KPCC to send leaders like V P Sajeendran and P M Niyas to Chelakkara to resolve internal discord and unite the party.
High Stakes for LDF and Kerala Leadership
The Chelakkara by-election was not just a battle between the LDF and UDF but a critical test for Kerala’s leadership. For Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, losing the seat would be a significant setback, especially since Chelakkara is the only constituency out of the three bypolls in Kerala that is currently held by the CPM. The BJP’s participation in the contest further added to the complexity, with both the Congress and LDF candidates facing challenges from local dissidents and BJP supporters.
EVM Glitches Addressed Amid Tight Security
The election process took place under tight security arrangements and was largely incident-free, except for some reports of electronic voting machine (EVM) breakdowns in certain booths of Chelakkara and Wayanad. Election officials quickly resolved these issues, ensuring the process continued smoothly.