Nilambur Bypoll: A Contest of Political Heavyweights Amidst Rain and Tight Security

In the Nilambur Assembly constituency of Kerala, bypoll voting on Thursday witnessed a steady participation rate, reaching a little over 70% by the close at 5 pm, according to the Election Commission. Security was tight, and the voting process was closely monitored through webcasting, ensuring a smooth procedural flow.

The contest saw robust participation from major political fronts, including the ruling LDF's M Swaraj and UDF's Aryadan Shoukath. The BJP-led NDA and Trinamool Congress also had strong contenders in Mohan George and P V Anvar, respectively. While final turnout figures are pending, the enthusiasm was palpable across the constituency's 263 polling booths.

The votes, cast by 2.32 lakh eligible voters, will be counted on June 23. Despite sporadic rain, political parties voiced confidence about their prospects. Key issues like local development remained central to their campaigns, though some criticism arose over the neglect of certain local issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)