Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: ‘Sweet surprise’ for first-time voters evokes mixed feelings

The ‘halwa’ campaign of the Election Commission of India (EC) to improve the youth voter turnout evoked mixed response among the voters in some of the constituencies in Ernakulam as only a few lucky could savour the ‘sweet surprise.’

The first-time voters who cast their votes at St. Little Tresa’s Upper Primary School, Karumaloor, near Aluva, were among the select few who enjoyed the treat offered by the EC. “We distributed it after making enquiries among the young voters if they were exercising their franchise for the first time,” said an election official at the venue. Those who received the treat informed the officials that they would have voted even if they were not offered any incentive as voting was their democratic right.