Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram during Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha general elections, which commenced in the state at 7 am on April 26.
Tharoor emphasized that the elections shape the nation's future more profoundly than his own. He stressed the need of ushering in a new government in Delhi, asserting that Congress aims to unite people and is a safe party for people.
The seasoned politician also highlighted the imperative for India's democracy, diversity, and pluralism to experience a restoration and additionally underscored that while some parties critique the BJP, they seldom raise their voices against it.
Taking to Twitter, Tharoor urged his fellow Trivandrum residents (and those in constituencies voting in this phase) to fulfil their civic duties and exercise their franchise. He wrote, “Our democracy thrives when we all participate and each vote will go on to shape the future of our India. Your vote is your voice—let us make it count!”
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan also cast his vote alongside his wife and daughter in Kannur’s Pinarayi. Amongst others who have cast their ballots are BJP Kerala state president and Wayanad candidate K Surendran, Congress candidate KC Venugopal.
The recent update places Kerala’s voter turnout at 12 per cent in the first two hours of voting.
Kerala is participating in the second phase for all its 20 constituencies, the most significant ones being Wayanad, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi will face opposition from CPI's Annie Raja and BJP's state president K Surendran. On the other hand, Shashi Tharoor competes against BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvananthapuram. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi is in the race in Thrissur against Muraleedharan of Congress and VS Sunil Kumar of CPI(M).