Public campaigning ends for first phase of local body polls in Kerala

Public campaigning for the first phase of the local body elections concluded at 6 pm on Sunday, drawing a vibrant and high-energy finish across seven southern districts of Kerala. Roadshows, rallies, music and colourful displays marked the final hours as candidates and party workers made an intense last-minute appeal to voters. Monday has been set aside for silent campaigning.

Polling will be held on Tuesday, December 9, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam. 

Large crowds gathered in major town centres on Sunday, with supporters waving flags, carrying placards and marching through busy streets. Heavy traffic disruptions were reported in several areas, prompting the deployment of police and traffic personnel. Municipalities and corporations witnessed the most spirited scenes, with candidates travelling in open vehicles and even on cranes during their final roadshows. All major political fronts—UDF, LDF and BJP—staged impressive shows of strength, drawing participation from people of all age groups, including children. Clashes were reported from Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram, where a confrontation between DYFI and Congress supporters resulted in a few minor injuries.

Clashes reported in multiple places in Idukki
At Kanjiyar, CPI workers allegedly assaulted local Congress leader Pallikkavala Mambara George Joseph after accusing him of insulting their party during a campaign speech. Kattappana police registered a case, naming CPI state council member V R Shashi as the first accused. Video of the assault has since circulated on social media.

A minor clash also broke out at Muttam during election celebrations when UDF workers arriving from the Thodupuzha side confronted LDF supporters approaching from Erattupetta, leading to a brief standoff and a 20-minute traffic block before police and senior leaders intervened.

Meanwhile, in Kattappana municipality, tensions flared at Vettikuzha junction in Ward 6, where supporters of the Congress candidate and a rebel candidate engaged in a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical altercation. Supporters alleged that rebel candidate Rinto Sebastian was among those assaulted. UDF candidate is former municipal chairperson Shiny Sunny Cherian.

In total, 595 local bodies and 11,168 wards are in the fray, with 36,630 candidates contesting.

A total of 1,32,83,789 voters are eligible to participate in the first phase, including 62,51,219 men, 70,32,444 women, and 126 transgender persons. Among them, 456 are overseas voters.

The remaining districts—Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod—will vote in the second phase on December 11.