Thiruvananthapuram: The second phase of local body elections began early Thursday morning. Polling is being held for districts of Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad. Similar to phase-1, long queues are being experienced at booths in all districts, where people began to line up in front of polling stations earlier to 7 am.
Seats are up for grabs in 451 local self-government institutions comprising 8116 wards. Voters will select their preferred candidates for a total of 350 gram panchayats, 58 block panchayats and 36 municipalities during the day. Voting today will spell fate of of 5 district panchayats spanning 124 divisions, and for 128 wards of Koch and, Thrissur Corporations.
Elections have been postponed in ward-17 of Kalamasserry municipality and Puluzhi ward of Thrissur following death of candidates.
Polling began 7 am morning and will close at 6 pm. For those who turned covid-positive or entered quarantine since last noon can cast their votes directly at polling station in the last hour of voting, after obtaining certificate from special officer at Health Department. Voters today comprise 47,28,489 men, 51,28,361 men, 93 transgenders and 265 NRIs.
