Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 13 (NationPress) As the counting for the Kerala local body elections commenced on Saturday, initial trends showcased a diverse and evolving landscape throughout the state.

The BJP-led NDA emerged with a promising start, while the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front maintained a slight overall lead, as anticipated.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front also demonstrated a stronger performance compared to the 2020 local body elections.

Intense, competitive contests are taking place in municipalities, highlighting the hard-fought nature of these elections.

While the UDF is claiming gains in district panchayats, the CPI(M) seems to hold a more secure position in gram panchayats.

The Left is showing an advantage in block panchayats, reaffirming its organizational strength at this intermediate level.

In numerous corporation wards, the CPI(M) is also maintaining a lead.

The outcomes of the district panchayats are widely regarded as the key indicators of political strength within the state.

With the exception of Kannur, most corporations are under Left control, although early trends indicate potential changes as counting progresses.

The BJP-led NDA has taken an early lead in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, yet the competition remains very tight, with the Left performing well.

Reports suggest that the NDA is also performing strongly in Palakkad. In Thrissur, the UDF has gained an early advantage, although the BJP is showing signs of catching up, and the Left's results are below expectations.

At the Ernakulam Corporation, the Congress seems to be affected by internal dissent, impacting its prospects in one of the six corporations it was optimistic about.

In Kannur Corporation, the Congress is also hoping for a favorable outcome. These trends are based on data available as of 9 a.m. Overall, the Left maintains a relative advantage in the total number of wards, even though the final results remain uncertain.