Voting Ends in The First Phase of Kerala Local Body Polls
Barring minor incidents, the polling passed off peacefully across the seven districts
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Moderate to high voter turnout was recorded throughout the day in local body polls across seven districts of Kerala on Tuesday.
By 6 p.m., Alappuzha, Idukki, and Ernakulam had each achieved a turnout of over 70 per cent. The districts that went to the polls were Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam.
Thiruvananthapuram district had the lowest turnout at 65.93 per cent by 6 p.m., followed by Kollam at 69.32, Pathanamthitta at 65.91, Alappuzha at 72.74, Kottayam at 69.77, Idukki at 70.26, and Ernakulam at 73.36 per cent.
The State Election Commission's final voter turnout figures will be known later.
Barring minor incidents, the polling passed off peacefully across the seven districts.
In comparison, the 2020 local body polls saw higher turnout in all seven districts: Thiruvananthapuram at 74.12 percent, Kollam at 74.69, Pathanamthitta at 69.70, Alappuzha at 78.06, Kottayam at 74.50, Idukki at 74.33, and Ernakulam at 81.01 percent.
The campaigning for the second phase of polling in the remaining seven districts wrapped up on Tuesday. The districts set to vote on December 11 are Kannur, Kasargod, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur.
These local body polls are seen as the semifinals ahead of the crucial Assembly elections scheduled for April-May 2026. All major political fronts—the CPM-led LDF, Congress-led UDF, and BJP-led NDA—put in strong efforts during the first phase and aim to carry that momentum into the second phase. The results, to be announced on December 14, will be closely watched as they could signal the future political direction of Kerala.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed confidence that the LDF would achieve a remarkable victory in the polls.
Opposition Leader V. D. Satheeshan predicted a historic win for the UDF, signaling a political shift in the state that he believes will lead to the LDF’s defeat in the 2026 assembly elections.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar remarked that the people are tired of both the LDF and UDF and are seeking a third option, with the NDA set for a significant win.
In the 2020 local body elections, the CPM-led LDF won 514 gram panchayats out of 941, while the UDF secured 375 and the BJP 22. Ward-wise, the LDF claimed 7,500 wards, the UDF 5,893, and the BJP-NDA 1,182. In municipalities, the UDF had the upper hand, winning 45 out of 87, with the LDF taking 35 and the BJP just 2. In corporations, the BJP suffered a near wipeout, as the LDF won five of six and the Congress managed only one.
