Kochi: Kerala is set for the first phase of its high-stakes local body elections tomorrow, with seven major districts — Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam — heading to the polling booths. After days of intense campaigning across South and Central Kerala, the political fervor came to a close on Sunday, marking today as the official silent campaign day. The State Election Commissioner confirmed that all arrangements are firmly in place for a smooth polling process.
Voting will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM on Tuesday, preceded by a mock poll at 6 AM in the presence of candidates and their polling agents. Meanwhile, campaigning across northern districts—from Thrissur to Kasaragod—will conclude by Tuesday evening. Special provisions have been made to ensure that senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those with physical ailments can cast their votes without waiting in long queues.
The second phase of polling, covering seven northern districts, is scheduled for Thursday. Although elections were announced for 23,576 wards across 1,199 local bodies in two phases, no voting will be required in 14 wards in Kannur and two in Kasaragod, where Left candidates and one Indian Union Muslim League candidate have already been elected unopposed.
With a massive 75,633 candidates in the fray across both phases, Kerala’s local body elections promise a decisive political showdown. Counting of votes will take place on Saturday, when the final results will be declared.
