All three major alliances in Kerala are keeping their fingers crossed as counting of votes has begun for the local body elections, which witnessed the highest turnout since 1995.
The counting began at 8 am on Saturday at 244 centres and 14 district collectorates. The results are expected to set the tone of the campaigning by the political parties for the assembly elections due in 2026.
The elections were held in two phases on December 9 and December 11. The turnout for the first phase was 70.91 per cent, while in the second phase, 76.08 per cent of voters exercised their franchise.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Visuals from outside the counting station at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya ICSE School, Nalanchira for Kerala local body elections. Vote counting will begin at 8 am across 244 counting centres. pic.twitter.com/BAtmwiFlXb
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
The oath-taking of elected panchayat members and municipal councillors will be held on December 21 at 10 am. Oath-taking of corporation councillors will be held on December 21 at 11 am.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed confidence about a historic win for the LDF and said that the Sabarimala gold loss issue would not affect the prospects of the Left front.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph had claimed that the Sabarimala issue would affect the LDF prospects in the polls as they were protecting those involved in the scam.
Leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the Congress, like Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, P.K. Kunhalikutty and M.K. Muneer were confident of a huge victory for the UDF in the local body polls.
