Second Phase of Local Body Polls in Kerala on Thursday
Security has been stepped up in all seven districts, especially at trouble-prone booths
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of the local body elections in the remaining seven districts of Kerala will take place on Thursday.
Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur are set to go to the polls. Polling materials have been distributed across all districts, with officials heading to their booths carrying three ballot units and one control unit for the three-tier elections, collected from the distribution centers. Each corporation and municipality has received one ballot unit and one control unit.
Security has been stepped up in all seven districts, especially at trouble-prone booths.
Alongside the Kerala Police, RAF units from Bengaluru and Coimbatore have been stationed at various locations. In Kozhikode district alone, over 7,000 security personnel are on duty.
Kannur district has the highest number of trouble-prone booths, with 5,100 personnel deployed across 1,025 booths. Most booths now have webcasting facilities. Out of 2,513 booths marked as sensitive in the local body polls, 1,025 are in Kannur, including 50 identified as facing a “Maoist threat.”
Poll percentage in first phase 70.91 per cent
The Kerala State Election Commission reported a total voter turnout of 70.91% in the first phase of the local body polls on December 9, covering seven districts: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam.
