- By Raju Kumar
- Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:41 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala Local Body Election Voting Updates: The first phase of the Kerala local body polls began on Tuesday amid tight security. The electoral fate of 36,630 candidates will be decided in the first phase of the Kerala local body polls.
Kerala local body Phase 1 Election: Voting Underway Amid Tight Security; LDF, UDF In Direct Fight In Semi-Final Ahead Of Assembly Polls
Kerala Local Body Election Updates: The voting for the first phase of the Kerala local body polls is underway in the seven districts - Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam. The polling for the second phase in the remaining districts - Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod- will take place on December 11. Results for all 1,199 local bodies are scheduled to be announced on December 13.
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Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar cast his vote for the Kerala local body elections at a polling booth in Jawaharnagar GLPS.
75,632 Candidates Are In Race
According to the Election Commission, 1,32,83,789 voters are eligible to decide the outcome for 75,632 candidates contesting in 23,576 wards across the state in the two phases.
Semi-Final Ahead Of Assembly Elections
Leaders and activists of various political parties concluded the silent door-to-door campaigning in seven southern districts of Kerala on the eve of the first phase of the crucial local body polls, which is widely seen as a semi-final before next year's assembly elections.
Intense Campaigning In LSGD Polls
The open campaigning for the first phase of polls ended on Sunday evening with massive roadshows, bike rallies, and foot marches cutting across villages and towns in the state.As part of silent campaigning on Monday, candidates and local party activists visited houses and shops to distribute voting slips and make last-minute appeals.
On election eve, leaders of various parties expressed confidence in securing the maximum number of seats. Unlike previous Local Self-Government Department polls, the state this time witnessed intense competition among traditional political rivals, as the contest is seen as significant ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
LDF Vs UDF
The CPI(M)-led LDF highlighted the government's development and welfare initiatives, while the Congress-led UDF focused on allegations of corruption and misgovernance.
The BJP campaigned on promises of development and infrastructure projects, citing central support. The Sabarimala temple gold loss case, in which CPI(M) leader and former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar was arrested, posed a challenge for the LDF.
The UDF saw setbacks due to allegations of rape and forced abortion against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was later expelled by the Congress from primary membership.
(With PTI inputs)