Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the first phase of the three-tier local body polls in Kerala concluded on a peaceful note on Tuesday with a turnout of 72.67 percent recorded in five districts, with the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, Congress-headed UDF and BJP-NDA locking horns in a majority of wards. As per the latest details issued by the state election commission, Alappuzha recorded the highest percentage of voter turnout with 77.23 percent, while Pathanamthitta recorded 69.70, the lowest in the five districts.

 Thiruvananthapuram recorded 69.76 percent votes, Kollam 73.41 and 74.56 percent was the voters turnout in Idukki district. A total of 24,583 candidates were in the fray, trying their electoral luck in 6,910 wards of 395 local bodies in the districts-Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta,Alappuzha and Idukki. Two Corporations- Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, 20 municipalities, 318 village panchayats, 50 block panchayats and 5 district panchayats are among the local bodies where the first phase polling is being held.

While state Ministers Kadakampally Surendran and A C Moideen expressed confidence about the Left Front's victory, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said a strong wave in favour of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was witnessed.

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