The Nilambur assembly by-election recorded an impressive 75.27% voter turnout, according to the Election Commission’s final report. This marks a marginal rise from the 75.23% turnout in the 2021 Assembly polls, and stands out as one of the highest in recent bypolls held in Kerala.
What makes the turnout more significant is that it surpassed both the 2024 Lok Sabha election turnout (71.28%) and the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll turnout (61.46%), in the same assembly segment – signaling a renewed enthusiasm among voters.
Out of 2,32,381 registered voters, thousands turned up at polling booths across Nilambur despite the inclement weather. The 10-candidate contest features a high-stakes battle between UDF’s Aryadan Shoukath, LDF’s M. Swaraj, NDA’s Mohan George, and independent candidate P.V. Anvar.
Both the LDF and UDF camps are viewing the high turnout as a positive indicator. Meanwhile, NDA’s Mohan George expressed confidence that his alliance has expanded its support base in this bypoll.
All eyes are now on June 23, when the vote counting will reveal whether this energetic turnout translates into a political shift in Nilambur.
