Latest news with #NilamburAssembly
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur bypoll: arrangements in place for counting of votes on June 23
The counting of votes for the byelection in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Malappuram will be held on June 23. The strong room where the electronic voting machines are kept will be opened at 7.30 a.m. in the presence of the candidates' agents. The counting of votes will begin at 8 a.m., Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U. Kelkar said here on Friday. 19 rounds In all, 19 rounds of counting will be held across 14 tables. Five tables have been set up for counting the postal ballots, including the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, which will be counted first. The electronic votes will be counted next. The votes will be counted in the presence of the Observer appointed by the Election Commission and the candidates or their agents. Micro observers and Assistant Returning Officers have been appointed to monitor the counting of votes. 75.27% turnout The number of voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips in five selected booths will be compared with the votes in the EVMs there to ensure accuracy. As per the latest update from the CEO's office, Nilambur saw a voter turnout of 75.27%. The EVMs used in the byelection are stored in a strong room at the Chungathara Marthoma Higher Secondary School under tight security.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Nilambur Assembly By-election sees 70.76% voter turnout by 5 PM
Malappuram (Kerala) [India], June 19 (ANI): The Nilambur Assembly by-election in Kerala recorded a voter turnout of 70.76% as of 5 PM, according to data from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kerala. The polling process has been reported to be smooth, with robust arrangements to ensure a fair and secure election. Malappuram District Collector VR Vinod, overseeing the by-election, stated, 'We have identified 14 booths as critical polling stations, including three located inside forest areas. Additionally, 11 polling stations were designated as critical based on police inputs. Micro observers have been deployed at all critical polling stations, and webcasting has been arranged across all 263 polling stations to ensure transparency.' Vinod further noted that adequate police security has been deployed, and all officers are well-trained. 'Seven Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) developed minor issues but were promptly replaced. The polling process is proceeding smoothly without any major disruptions,' he added. The polling, conducted under tight security arrangements, is part of the AC-Bye Election 2025. Polling in Kerala's Nilambur started today at 7 am. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has fielded M Swaraj, the United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded Aryadan Shoukath, while the BJP has fielded Adv. Mohan George is a candidate for the Nilambur Assembly constituency. United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukhath expressed confidence in a UDF victory for the constituency, saying that the state government has 'totally neglected Nilambur area,' with tribals not being rehabilitated and human-animal conflict increasing. Earlier, Kerala LoP and Congress MLA VD Satheesan also said that a UDF victory would mark the party's return to the state. Speaking to ANI, Satheesan said, 'This is a political contest, a direct fight between the UDF and the LDF. It is the semi-final leading up to the 2026 Assembly elections, and we are confident of winning by a significant margin. We see this as an opportunity to hold the Pinarayi government accountable, a government that has been in power for the past nine years.' The bypoll has been necessitated after the resignation of Left Democratic Front independent legislator PV Anvar, who later joined the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) after his acrimonious break-up with the ruling alliance. (ANI)
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Shashi Tharoor Excluded From Congress's Nilambur Campaigners List, Says He 'Wasn't Invited'
Last Updated: Shashi Tharoor has been excluded from the party's star campaigners list for the Nilambur by-poll, reportedly after he alleged he wasn't invited to campaign. Congress has reportedly excluded MP Shashi Tharoor from its list of star campaigners for the by-poll for the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala. The development, according to media reports, came after Tharoor alleged he was not invited by his party to campaign in Nilambur. The Congress MP had publicly expressed displeasure, explaining why he did not go for the election campaign there. 'In Wayanad, there was a sign of campaigning for Priyanka (Gandhi). It is true that there are some differences of opinion with the present Congress leadership, but responding more will not put the party in crisis on election day," Tharoor was quoted as saying. 'I was not invited by the party for campaigning, but that's alright, because I too, at that time, was abroad," he said, referring to his delegation's visit to significant world capitals to highlight India's stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. 'I want to wish our candidate only the best. I have known him for a long time personally. The congress cadres who went from Trivandrum informed me the campaign was good," Tharoor said. Voting in the by-poll for the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala commenced at 7 am on Thursday. Polling commenced amidst tight security arrangements, including the deployment of central security forces and police, along with live monitoring of the by-election process through an extensive webcasting system. People began arriving early in the morning at the 263 polling booths across the constituency, which has over 2.32 lakh voters who will elect their representative from among 10 candidates. Among the 10, the key contenders are ruling LDF pick M Swaraj, Aryadan Shoukath (Congress-led UDF), Trinamool Congress state convener and independent candidate PV Anvar and Mohan George of the BJP-led NDA. The by-election was necessitated after Anvar resigned as MLA of the constituency following his severing of ties with the CPI(M)-led LDF over certain allegations by him against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his close aides. First Published: June 19, 2025, 14:35 IST
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
All arrangements in place as Nilambur goes to poll on June 19
MALAPPURAM About 2 lakh voters are expected to reach polling booths on Thursday to choose their representative in the Nilambur Assembly byelection. As many as 263 polling stations have been set for a total voter population of 2.32 lakh. Poll equipment was distributed from Mar Thoma Higher Secondary School, Chungathara, on Wednesday. After a mock poll at 5.30 a.m., polling will start at 7 a.m. and continue till 6 p.m. Voters reaching the polling stations before 6 p.m. will be allowed to vote. A total of 315 voting machines and 341 VVPATs, including reserves, will be used for polling. As many 1,301 trained polling officials will be on duty. Among them will be 316 presiding officers, 975 polling staff and 10 micro-observers. Tight security arrangements have been made at 14 critical booths, including three booths located in the forest. The booths in the forest are at Punchakkolli, Vaniyampuzha and Nedumkayam. Election Commission has arranged webcasting of the polling in all stations. Although Nilambur has 3,672 voters eligible for home voting, only 1,254 of them exercised this concession. They voted from their homes between June 9 and 16. Among them were 938 voters above age 85 and 316 differently abled persons. Ten candidates are in the fray, including the frontrunners Aryadan Shoukath of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and M. Swaraj of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The other contestants are BJP's Mohan George, SDPI's Sadik Naduthodi, Independents like P.V. Anvar, N. Jayarajan, P. Radhakrishnan Namboothiripad, Vijayan, Satheesh Kumar G., and Harinarayanan. With 7,787 new voters getting eligibility, Nilambur has 1.136 lakh men voters and 1.187 women voters. There are eight transgender voters as well. As many as 1,200 security personnel, including State and Central forces, have been deployed. Nilambur DySP will be in charge of Nilambur and Pookkottumpadam police stations and another DySP will be in charge of Edakkara, Vazhikkadavu and Pothukal police stations. There will be 17 patrolling groups to monitor the 263 polling booths, with each group headed by a sub-inspector. There will be two law and order patrolling teams for each police station headed by a sub-inspector. Besides, there will be separate quick response teams (QRTs) comprising a sub-inspector and four police officers. Central security forces are posted in areas where Maoist presence had been reported. One company of Armed Police Battalion is on election duty in Nilambur. One platoon Central Armed Police Force will provide security to the strongroom at Mar Thoma Higher Secondary School, Chungathara. A district election control room has been set up at the Collectorate. It can be reached at 0483 2734990. A call centre set up at Government Rest House, Nilambur, can be reached at 048931 220039.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Bypoll: public holiday in Nilambur on June 19
A public holiday has been declared for government offices and educational institutions in the Nilambur Assembly constituency due to the Assembly byelection on June 19. It will be a paid holiday for all institutions under the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881. Elderly people and differently abled persons can ensure voting facilities through the Election Commission's Saksham app. The app is designed to guarantee full participation of the differently abled and the elderly in the election, said Election Commission officials. By downloading and registering the Saksham-ECI app on the mobile from Google Play Store, one can find the polling booths, get information about candidates and voters, ensure wheelchair accessibility for voting, and arrange transportation of differently abled voters in emergencies. One should register in advance through the app using the election ID card number. District Social Justice Officer Sameer Machingal will be responsible for ensuring services to the differently abled. For the visually impaired, Braille script will be available on the voting machine. Voters over 85 years of age and differently abled will also get the opportunity to vote from their homes through home voting. All polling booths in Nilambur will be on the ground floor to help the differently abled. Ramps and wheelchairs will be provided in all polling booths. District Collector V.R. Vinod called upon the elderly and differently abled voters of Nilambur to make use of their franchise to utilise the Saksham mobile app. People can complain about violations of the election code of conduct at the control room at 0483- 2734990. Election Commission has declared dry days in Nilambur on June 19 and 20.
