Leaders and activists across Kerala concluded the silent, door-to-door canvassing in seven southern districts on the eve of the crucial local body polls. Widely regarded as a semi-final ahead of next year's Assembly elections, the first phase of polling is scheduled for Tuesday. Open campaigning for this phase concluded on Sunday evening with massive roadshows, bike rallies, and foot marches across towns and villages. On Monday, candidates and local party workers focused on visiting houses and shops to distribute voting slips and make final appeals.
Voters in seven districts — Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam — will cast their ballots on Tuesday. The remaining districts — Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kasaragod — will vote on December 11.
According to the Election Commission, 1,32,83,789 voters are eligible to decide the fate of 75,632 candidates contesting in 23,576 wards across 1,199 local bodies. The results for all local bodies are set to be announced on December 13.
Unlike previous local self-government polls, this contest has seen unusually intense competition among traditional rivals, underscoring its significance leading up to the Assembly elections. The LDF faced a challenge due to the Sabarimala temple gold loss case, which led to the arrest of CPI(M) leader and former Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar. The UDF was hampered by allegations of rape and forced abortion against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was subsequently expelled from the Congress's primary membership. The BJP dealt with reports of internal disagreements and issues stemming from local-level campaigning. BJP Alleges Threats in Kollam
Amidst the heightened political tension, Bharatiya Janata Party state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar formally approached the state police chief on Monday, demanding intervention to ensure a fair election in the Kottappuram ward (SC) of the Kadakkal village panchayat in the Kollam district. In his petition, Chandrasekhar alleged that the situation has been highly tense due to the "continuous and deliberate actions of CPI(M) workers." He claimed that the campaign posters and flex boards of BJP candidate Indulekha were intentionally destroyed, that she was subjected to verbal abuse, and that the situation has escalated to direct death threats.
He concluded that this "represents a direct and serious threat to the democratic process as well as to the safety of the workers and voters in the ward."
Also read: Congress shielding Rahul Mamkootathil: Kerala CM
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