Kerala local body elections: Kannur, Kasaragod see sluggish start to polling; machine glitches delay voting in several booths

Kannur and Kasargod recorded a slow start in the second phase of the Kerala local body elections on Thursday, with turnout reaching only 5.37% and 4.8% respectively in the first hours of polling.

Voting was delayed across several booths after electronic voting machines malfunctioned, causing disruptions of more than an hour in many places. Technical issues were reported in the 7th ward of Kunnothparamba, Ettupara(16th ward ) in Payavoor, Maravikavu in Annakara panchayat, 7th ward in Madayi panchayat, Hidayat English medium school in Pappinessery, Mavuncheri in Pariyaram panchayat, Madapurachal in Peravoor, and in Ramanthali.

In Payyanur municipality ward 1, an early morning incident created tension when the agent of an independent candidate backed by the UDF was allegedly taken away from the booth. The police traced the agent and brought them back before polling began.

At Pariyaram panchayat, UDF’s 16th ward candidate P.V. Sajeevan was allegedly beaten up at the second booth of Pariyaram High school.

In Kasaragod, four crude bombs were found near the house of LDF candidate K Prakashan at his property in Kumbadaje. The issue came out after a dog bit a bomb. The police have arrived at the spot and started an investigation.