Counting centre turns a theatre of emotions

The counting centre at Mar Ivanios Vidya Nagar at Nalanchira right here witnessed assorted emotions on Wednesday as vote counting for the Thiruvananthapuram metropolis Corporation polls appeared to go all the way down to the wire, albeit for the preliminary levels of the train.

An air of pleasure prevailed outdoors the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya ICSE School the place the preliminary hours noticed a massive gathering, comprising candidates, polling brokers and media individuals. Nonetheless, the district administration’s efforts to limit entry to the counting halls on account of the COVID-19 protocol succeeded to a massive extent. The massive posse of police personnel bolstered these measures as they permitted solely those that had been issued passes by the district authorities.

First end result

Many folks had been glued to a massive display erected outdoors the counting centre to maintain monitor of the electoral traits. Bringing an finish to a lengthy, anxious wait, the primary end result was introduced by round 9.15 a.m. when the counting officers declared Sudheer of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) the winner within the Beemapally East ward that was beforehand held by the United Democratic Front (UDF). A sizeable group of Left Democratic Front (LDF) activists who had been gathered outdoors the campus premises quickly burst into celebrations.

Victory revelry and sloganeering continued to select up outdoors the primary entrance because the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) inched near the LDF, suggesting the chance of a neck-and-neck end. Throwing restraint necessitated by such pandemic-stricken occasions within the air, the activists of each the coalitions competed in opposition to one another in jamboree from both aspect of the MC Road because the leads ebbed and flowed with counting progressing by varied rounds.

While they remained helpless in stopping crowds from build up, the police centered their energies on regulating vehicular movement alongside the highway.

Early hopes

Buoyed by the traits halfway by the train, M.R. Gopan, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) parliamentary get together chief within the outgoing council, exuded confidence of a BJP victory. “Though we might not be able to achieve our target of over 60 seats, we are certain to emerge the largest coalition,” he stated.

However, what adopted put paid to such hopes because the LDF romped dwelling, slightly comfortably, to go previous the half-way mark and achieve a clear majority.

‘Result of good work’

Rakhi Ravikumar, the outgoing Deputy Mayor, who received from the Vazhuthacaud ward but once more, attributed the resounding victory to the performances of each the earlier council and the LDF authorities. The citizens had responded to the baseless allegations levelled by the Opposition events, she added.

While many candidates of the UDF had been conspicuous by their absence, some others could possibly be seen making silent exits from the counting centre.