
The counting of votes for 1,199 local bodies across Kerala commenced at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with officials first taking up postal ballots before moving to Electronic Voting Machines. The State Election Commission has deployed counting teams across 244 centres and at all 14 district collectorates.
Early numbers point to a closely fought battle between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in gram panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities, and corporations.
Key Live Updates
Statewide Trends (SEC):
Corporation Trends: LDF is gaining in Kozhikode Corporation, while NDA is showing an edge in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
Thiruvananthapuram Update: UDF defeated LDF in the prominent Palayam ward.
Panchayat Trends:
NDA Momentum Slips (as of 9:06 a.m.):
Leads dropped to 10 in gram panchayats
Early Snapshot at 8:51 a.m.:
Additional Political Buzz
A sharp exchange in the Lok Sabha added to the political atmosphere, with MP Kangana Ranaut criticising Rahul Gandhi during a debate and remarking, “PM Modi hacks hearts, not EVMs.”
Counting-Day Issues
Minor disruptions were reported from centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, and Vadakara, where disputes over the entry of booth agents and candidates briefly stalled proceedings.
Why These Results Matter
The outcome of the local body polls is expected to heavily influence party strategies ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. Both fronts view the results as a key indicator of ground sentiment.
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