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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala witnessed more than 65 percent voting turnout in the local body polls with 70 % voting percentage recorded across the state.
There has been few incidents of violence reported in parts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts where BJP leaders accused the left party workers of indulging in bogus voting. In Vanchiyoor, BJP leaders alleged that CPM was adding bogus votes in the constituency.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have cast the elections as a litmus test of nine years of Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule.
For the LDF, the polls are a pointer to whether anti-incumbency, among other factors, will narrow its path to victory for a third consecutive term in 2026.
From 7 a.m., a steady stream of voters carrying voter identity cards and election slips made a beeline for polling stations spanning Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts.
In play in the first phase of polling are three Municipal Corporations, 39 municipalities, seven district panchayats, 75 block panchayats, and 471 grama panchayats.
After casting his vote, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan told reporters in his constituency at Paravoor in Ernakulam district that the UDF would make a determined comeback after its setback in the 2020 local body polls.
He said the voting patterns were different for local body, Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Nevertheless, Mr Satheesan noted the local body polls were an approximate indicator showing the general direction in which the political winds were blowing ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
Mr Satheesan said anti-incumbency catalysed by the Sabarimala gold theft scandal would propel the UDF to power in Corporations, Municipalities and District Panchayats. He said the UDF’s unity, the lack of any tangible rebel threats, and boots-on-the-ground campaigning would tilt the odds in the Opposition’s favour.
Campaign for second phase ends today
The campaign for the second phase of polls that include 7 districts ends today.
There has been a high voltage campaign activity that took place in all 7 districts including Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kasaragod.
