Two hours into counting of votes for the local body elections in Kerala on Saturday, early trends indicate that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is poised for a comeback in the state.
The UDF is leading in four out of six corporations and eight out of 14 district panchayats in the state. Out of the 87 municipalities, the front is leading in 49, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is ahead in 30. The Congress is leading in eight out of 14 district panchayats, while the CPI(M)-led LDF is leading only in six, as against their win in 11 district bodies in 2020.
Out of the 941 village panchayats, where the LDF had a clear edge in the last two elections, the UDF has this time gained a lead in 368, while the Left front is leading only in 359 bodies.
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The BJP, which is ruling 23 panchayats, has surged ahead in 36 panchayats. The party is also leading in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, where at present it is the main Opposition. The BJP is at present leading only in one municipality, whereas the party had been ruling in two such bodies till now.
Counting of votes began in the state at 8 am on Saturday at 258 centres, including 14 district headquarters. Out of 2.86 crore voters in the electoral rolls of the State Election Commission, 2.10 crore had cast their votes in the two-phase elections held on December 9 and 11, registering a polling percentage of 73.69. Among the 14 districts, Malappuram witnessed the highest polling (77.37%), while the lowest was in Pathanamthitta (66.78%).
The outcome of the elections is seen to be critical for the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF, the UDF and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as it is expected to reflect the public sentiment in Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections to be held in April-May next year.