Kerala witnessed an impressive voter response in the first phase of the local body elections, with turnout soaring past 70% across seven districts. Despite polling hours ending at 6 PM, voters who were already in queues were allowed to cast their ballots, ensuring maximum participation.
Ernakulam emerged as the top-performing district with a remarkable 73.16% turnout, while Thiruvananthapuram recorded the lowest, at 65.74%. Except for a few minor incidents, the polling process remained largely peaceful, reflecting the state’s strong democratic spirit.
A brief disruption occurred at a booth in Munnanchery, Alappuzha, after a candidate’s name failed to appear on the voting machine. The missing name belonged to BSP’s district panchayat candidate Shailaja, prompting the party to demand a re-poll at the booth.
The day also saw a tragic moment in Thiruvananthapuram, where a 73-year-old woman named Shantha collapsed and died while waiting in line to vote at Pachalloor School’s Booth No. 6 around noon.
Voting took place across 595 local bodies, including 3 corporations, 39 municipalities, 7 district panchayats, 75 block panchayats, and 471 grama panchayats, covering a total of 11,168 wards from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam, including highland regions that recorded strong polling numbers.
Kerala’s voters have once again demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the democratic process, setting a strong tone for the remaining phases of the election.
