High polling figures redraw political calculations in Pathanamthitta

A higher-than-expected polling percentage that surpassed the previous Assembly election and almost matched the levels seen a decade ago has set the stage for a razor-thin political contest in the district, with all fronts now engaged in intense post-poll calculations.

As major coalitions dive deep into number crunching, the election figures in Pathanamthitta have opened up multiple interpretations, with candidates across parties closely watching whether the surge in turnout translates into real electoral advantage. Political leaders attribute the spike in polling to the charged campaign atmosphere powered by high-voltage rallies led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. They also point to the revised electoral roll prepared after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which removed ineligible voters, as a key factor behind the higher turnout.