People wait in a queue to cast their votes during the Nilambur Assembly by-election, at GMLP School, in Malappuram district, Kerala
Credit: PTI Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: Nilambur in Malappuram district of Kerala recorded over 73 percent polling in the assembly by-poll on Thursday.
A reasonable polling percent was recorded even as only less than one year is left for the next general elections in the state.
Both Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath and CPM candidate M Swaraj expressed hopes that the high voter turnout could favour them.
While the voter turnout in the 2021 assembly election was 75.2 percent it was 78.8 in the 2016 assembly election. Nilambur is part of Wayanad Lok Sabha seat represented by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election as well as the subsequent Lok Sabha by-poll the voter turnout was only 71 percent and 61 percent respectively.
P V Anvar, who won the 2016 and 2021 assembly polls from Nilambur as LDF independent , resigned in January owing to differences with CPM leadership and leader and joined the TMC. He is also in the fray.
By fielding Mohan George, who was a local leader of Kerala Congress (Joseph) party, BJP hopes to test the support of the Christian population of Nilambur that comes to around ten percent apart from the Hindu votes.
The Nilambur by-poll assumes much significance as it is being considered as a the semi-finals of the 2026 assembly polls.