Final phase of poll ends in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, May 3

Seventy per cent polling reported in the last and final phase of Assembly elections in Kerala, covering 15 constituencies in Kannur and Kasargode districts concluded at 1700 hours today.

Election Commission (EC) sources said barring minor incidents, polling was peaceful in the politically volatile northern districts. Elaborate security arrangements had been made, with most of the 2,373 polling booths being identified as trouble-prone. Each booth was manned by five policemen. Over 9,000 security personnel drawn from Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu were deployed in the region and digital cameras installed.

The EC decided to conduct voting in these districts in the last leg in view of repeated allegations of mischief before the polls