‘35’

BACKGROUNDER - 11

KERALA ASSEMBLY ELECTION-POLLING PERCENTAGE IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS

    So far eleven elections have been held to the State Legislative Assembly since the formation of the State in 1956. Details of votes polled in each of these elections is as follow:-

Year of Election

No of Seats

Electorate

Vote polled

Percentage

1

2

3

4

5

1957

1960

1965

1967

1970

1977

1980

1982

1987

1991

1996

126

126

133

133

133

140

140

140

140

139

140

88,51,443

96,01,601

85,57,716

86,13,658

1,01,68,467

1,14,62,487

1,32,63,837

1,31,17,296

1,59,44,280

1,95,12,248

2.06.67,409

58,99,822

82,28,812

64,28,937

65,18,272

76,34,451

90,78,459

95,87,663

96,49,083

1,28,39,457

1,43,33,377

1,47,06,806

66.22

85.70

75.12

75.67

75.07

79.20

72.28

73.56

80.53

73.46

71.16

    In the last election held on April 27, 1996, total Number of electorate according to the revised voters list was 206,67,480 : Percentage of polling was 71.16. Total 2068 nominations were filed. 63 were rejected and 804 nominations were withdrawn. The break -up of nominations, was as follows:

1. National parties = 356

2. State parties = 41

3. Registered unrecognized political parties = 133

4. Independents = 671

    Of the 1201 contestants, 914 candidates lost their security deposit for failing to get 1/6th of the total valid votes polled.