Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 9 (NationPress) Voting for the initial phase of Kerala's local body elections commenced energetically across seven districts on Tuesday, starting at 7 a.m. following the completion of mock polling.

The districts participating in this phase include Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam.

From early morning, long lines of voters were observed at polling stations, demonstrating robust public engagement.

By 8 a.m., just one hour into the polling, Thiruvananthapuram district recorded a turnout of 7.5 percent.

The voting encompasses 595 local self-government institutions, including three municipal corporations, 39 municipalities, seven district panchayats, 75 block panchayats, and 471 gram panchayats.

Polling will proceed until 6 p.m.

Several key political figures exercised their voting rights early, including Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and K.S. Sabarinathan, a two-time Congress legislator and candidate.

After casting his vote, Rajeev Chandrasekhar referred to the election as decisive and encouraged voters to back a transformative change for the state.

In contrast, V.D. Satheesan anticipated a “historic comeback” for the UDF, asserting that the public was keenly expecting this.

He also claimed that the state government was shielding individuals involved in the alleged theft of Ayyappan's gold, accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office of coercing officials to stall investigations until after the elections.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi expressed confidence that the BJP would “wear the victory crown” in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, asserting that voters would respond definitively in this election. He also mentioned that the outcome in the actress assault case would apply universally.

However, polling faced delays in various centers due to voting machine malfunctions.

In Kollam Corporation's Bharanikavu Division Booth No. 1, voting began late due to a machine failure.

Polling was also initially stalled at the Niranam Erathode booth in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, with similar issues reported in Vandiperiyar's Thangamala area, the Town Square ward of Pathanamthitta municipality, and Muvattupuzha municipality.

Replacement machines were provided at certain locations.

In a somber incident, UDF candidate C.S. Babu from the 10th ward of Pampakuda Panchayat in Muvattupuzha suffered a heart attack at 2:30 a.m. on polling day.

A former president of the Piravom Merchant Association, his passing resulted in the postponement of elections in the affected ward.

Others seen in the queue included prominent church leaders, Mar Thoma Church Metropolitan Theodosius, Cardinal Cleemis of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, and emerging superstar Asif Ali.

“I have exercised my franchise and voted for my candidate, expecting all to do the same,” remarked Cleemis.

Meanwhile, the remaining seven districts are scheduled to vote on Thursday, with results expected on Saturday.