Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The first phase of local body polls in seven districts in Kerala began this morning with heavy rains playing spoilsport in various parts of Thiruvananthapuram.
The crucial polls, seen as the semi-finals before the next year's Assembly polls, saw both the Congress-led UDF and LDF, spearheaded by CPI-M, going all out to woo voters.
Polling began at 7 am at Kollam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kasaragod, Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram with over one crore voters legibile to exercise their franchise by 5 pm.
CPI(M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a booth in Kannur district, claimed the election will see the end of the Congress-led front in the state, while KPCC President VM Sudheeran expressed confidence of the front's good performance.
BJP's move to break the bipolar polity in the state with the support of Ezhava outfit Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) also gives an added significance to the civic polls.
Former Union ministers Mullappally Ramachandran, O Rajagopal, Kodikunnil Suresh and state health minister VS Sivakumar were among the early voters.
In the first phase, a total of 31,161 candidates, including 582 in district panchayats, 2,844 in block panchayats, 22,788 in village panchayats, 1,315 in corporations and 3632 in municipalities are seeking their poll prospects.
According to state Election Commission figures, there are 1,11,11,006 voters in these seven districts.
The polls in the remaining seven districts - Alappuzha, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Malappuram and Palakkad - will be held in the second phase on November 5.
The counting will be held on November 7.
Meanwhile, a man, waiting in the queue to cast his franchise in Kasaragod district, collapsed and died on way to hospital, police said.
The crucial polls, seen as the semi-finals before the next year's Assembly polls, saw both the Congress-led UDF and LDF, spearheaded by CPI-M, going all out to woo voters.
Polling began at 7 am at Kollam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kasaragod, Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram with over one crore voters legibile to exercise their franchise by 5 pm.
BJP's move to break the bipolar polity in the state with the support of Ezhava outfit Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) also gives an added significance to the civic polls.
Advertisement
In the first phase, a total of 31,161 candidates, including 582 in district panchayats, 2,844 in block panchayats, 22,788 in village panchayats, 1,315 in corporations and 3632 in municipalities are seeking their poll prospects.
Advertisement
The polls in the remaining seven districts - Alappuzha, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Malappuram and Palakkad - will be held in the second phase on November 5.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, a man, waiting in the queue to cast his franchise in Kasaragod district, collapsed and died on way to hospital, police said.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
In Rare Recovery, Kerala Boy Survives Infection Which Has 97% Mortality Rate Migrant Worker Found Living In Dog Kennel On Rent In Kerala, Probe Ordered Explained: The Nipah Virus, Its Causes, Symptoms And Treatment IAS Officer's Wife Who "Eloped" With Gangster Returns Home, Dies By Suicide INS Brahmaputra Severely Damaged In Fire, Lying On Its Side; Sailor Missing Kuwait Couple Divorces Within 3 Minutes Of Getting Married Due To This Reason Bangladesh PM's Office, Police Websites Hacked Amid Unrest Over Job Quota Centre Has Increased Its Budget For Welfare And Empowerment Of Women Internet Says Kamala Harris Is "Brat", And Her Campaign Is Embracing It Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.