Heavy polling in presumed strongholds leaves Twenty20 camp upbeat
Heavy polling in Kunnathunadu and Perumbavoor Assembly segments, which are part of the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency, has left the Twenty20 camp upbeat as it considers the belt as its stronghold. Kizhakkambalam, Mazhuvannoor, Aikkaranadu and Kunnathunadu panchayats governed by Twenty20 fall within the Kunnathunadu Assembly constituency, which led the charts in terms of voter turnout. Kunnathunadu racked up the biggest voter turnout across all 14 constituencies in Ernakulam district.
Both Kunnathunadu and Perumbavoor Assembly
constituencies were the rst to cross the 60% voter turnout mark in the district with just two hours left for the polling to conclude. At nal count, Kunnathunadu clocked a voter turnout of 78.11% and Perumbavoor
73.13%.
“Heavy polling witnessed in our strongholds of Kunnathunadu, Perumbavoor, and Chalakudy is a clear sign in our favour. In fact, we will amass votes more than the combined vote share of UDF and LDF candidates. All three fronts will drop votes in our favour, and the LDF will su¤er the biggest setback. Earlier, people did not have an option and had to alternate between the UDF and the LDF,” said Sabu M. Jacob, Twenty20 chief coordinator.
However, both UDF candidate Benny Behanan and the LDF’s C. Raveendranath would have none of it and dismissed the claim outright. Mr. Behanan said he had been to almost all polling booths in Kunnathunadu and noticed no such trend in favour of Twenty20. Mr. Raveendranath said the LDF had focused on the need to preserve secularism during the twomonth-long campaign.