Kerala local body polls: NDA heads for big win in Thiruvananthapuram

As counting of votes is underway for the high-stakes Kerala local body elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has secured a clear lead in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, giving a huge setback to the ruling LDF.

The NDA had emerged as the runner-up in the capital city in the 2020 elections.

As per the latest trends, out of the six corporations in the state, the Congress-led UDF was surging ahead in four, while the Left Front, which had wrested power in five corporations in 2020, was leading only in Kozhikode. 

In the 2020 elections, the UDF managed to win only the Kannur corporation.

Among municipalities, the UDF was leading in 55, while the LDF was ahead in 27. The NDA was leading in two municipalities, as per the latest data available on the Election Commission website.

In the elections to block panchayats, the opposition alliance was leading in 82—seventeen ahead of the ruling bloc—while the NDA was leading in five.

Among gram panchayats, the UDF was leading in 453, the LDF in 372 and the NDA in 24.

The counting, which began at 8 am, is underway in 244 centres and 14 district collectorates. Initially, the postal ballots were counted, and then the EVM votes were taken up.

There were some issues at a few counting centres, including Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and Vadakara, over giving entry to booth agents and candidates.