Kerala local body election phase 2 voting Highlights: Polling crosses 76% voter turnout

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday alleged that the Congress has “womanisers” and “sexual perverts”, prompting senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala to hit back, stating that the CM should first control and stop protecting such persons in LDF.

Vijayan, while speaking to reporters after casting his vote for local body polls in Kannur, referred to the multiple allegations of sexual assault against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil and said, “Look at what these womanisers are doing”.

“If you examine the evidence on record and the concerns raised by the victims who came forward, you can see that their complaints were delayed as they were afraid for their lives. They got death threats, hence they were scared.

According to details shared by Manorama, several areas saw turnout well above the 70% mark by 6:30 pm on Thursday.

Thrissur: 71.19%

Palakkad: 74.95%

Malappuram: 76.19%

Kozhikode: 75.94%

Wayanad: 76.38%

Kannur: 74.92%

Kasaragod: 73.23%

MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, accused in a sexual assault case, casts vote in Palakkad.

In Thrissur, CPI (M) leader A Vijayaraghavan claimed that Congress is aligned with Jamaat-e-Islami in Kerala local body polls.

The grand-old party has not reacted to the statement yet.

The second phase of Kerala’s crucial local body elections is underway across seven districts — Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod. As of 3 pm, 63.80 per cent of voters had cast their ballots, reported Mathrubhumi.

Kerala registered a voter turnout of 52.95 percent till 1 pm, reports said. Among the districts that went to the polls, Thrissur recorded 51.19 percent turnout. Palakkad and Malappuram saw a higher participation with 53.5 percent and 54.87 percent, respectively.

Voting is underway for Kerala local body. A total of 38,994 candidates are in the fray: 28,274 for grama panchayats, 3,742 for block panchayats, 681 for district panchayats, 5,546 for municipalities and 751 for the corporations of Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur.

Senior leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key Congress ally, including Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, P. K. Kunhalikutty and M. K. Muneer expressed confidence that the UDF would secure a strong victory in the local body elections. The KPCC chief also said the Sabarimala gold issue would hurt the LDF’s prospects, alleging that the ruling front was protecting those linked to the scam, according to a PTI report.

The local body polls are widely seen as an important indicator ahead of next year’s state assembly elections. In the second phase, more than 1.53 crore voters are choosing representatives for 12,931 wards across 604 local bodies, including grama panchayats, block and district panchayats, municipalities and corporations. A total of 38,994 candidates are contesting.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote at Cherikkal Junior Basic School in Kannur during the second phase of the ongoing local body elections. Speaking to the media after voting, he said, “Even places considered UDF strongholds are accepting the LDF. The Sabarimala issue will not affect anything. The government took precise action. It has the full support of the believers. BJP and UDF are travelling in the same cart on this matter. Muslim masses have rejected Jamaat-e-Islami. The nation and the government stand with the survivor”

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed cast her vote at a polling station in Kannur during the Kerala local body elections, participating in the ongoing Phase II polling process.

The overall voter turnout stood at 23.45% as of 10:30 am. Thrissur recorded a turnout of 23.04%, while Palakkad was slightly higher at 23.61%. Malappuram registered 24.14%, Kozhikode 23.16% and Wayanad 23.15%. In the northern districts, Kannur reported a turnout of 22.23% and Kasaragod stood at 22.58%.

The results of the Kerala local body elections are expected to play a key role in setting the political tone for the 2026 Assembly polls. Local body verdicts have historically indicated voter mood – the ruling fronts lost in both 2010 and 2015, and the Opposition went on to win the 2011 and 2016 Assembly elections. This year’s polls also follow the 2024 Lok Sabha election, where the LDF again managed to win just one seat, mirroring its performance in 2019.

The second phase of polling in the crucial local body elections across seven districts of Kerala is currently underway. Fresh visuals from a polling booth in Wayanad show voters steadily arriving to cast their ballots as election officials manage the process on the ground.

Phase I of the local body elections was successfully held on Tuesday in Kerala’s southern districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. With Phase II underway today, the state is moving closer to completing the full polling process for the 2025 local body elections.

Counting of votes for Phase II will begin at 8 a.m. on December 13 at centres across Kerala. The State Election Commission will use its TREND software to provide real-time updates to the public. This system will track counting progress district-wise and ward-wise, allowing quick and transparent access to results.

Out of all polling stations, 2,055 have been identified as ‘sensitive’. Kannur district alone accounts for 1,025 such booths, the highest in this phase. These locations will have enhanced monitoring, including live webcasting and videography, to ensure transparent and secure polling without any disruptions

The State Election Commission has set up 18,274 polling stations to conduct voting smoothly. Distribution of polling materials began at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. These stations are arranged to handle the large voter turnout expected throughout the day, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all voters across the seven districts.

Polling has begun across seven districts in north Kerala as Phase II of the 2025 local body elections gets underway. The State Election Commission has ensured full preparations for smooth and fair voting, with high turnout expected throughout the day.

A total of 38,994 candidates are in the fray for various local body positions. Among them, 28,274 are contesting in grama panchayats, 3,742 in block panchayats, and 681 in district panchayats. Municipalities have 5,546 candidates, while 751 contenders are competing in the three major corporations of Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur.

Around 1.53 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this phase. The voter list includes 80.90 lakh women, 72.46 lakh men and 161 transgender voters. Additionally, 3,293 overseas voters are also registered, reflecting the wide participation expected from different sections of society.

Polling will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. across all districts participating in Phase II. A mock poll will be conducted an hour earlier at each booth to ensure the electronic voting machines are functioning properly. This step is followed strictly to avoid technical issues once official voting begins.

A total of 12,391 wards across 604 local bodies, including three major corporations, are going to the polls today. In Kannur, 14 wards have already declared winners, while two wards in Kasaragod also saw unopposed victories. These seats will not require polling, reducing the total number of active contests in these districts.

Welcome to the live coverage of Kerala local body elections 2025. More than 12,000 local body wards across seven northern districts of Kerala are voting today in Phase II.

The State Election Commission has completed all arrangements to ensure smooth and fair polling. Voting is taking place in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, where a large voter turnout is expected. Stay tuned…