Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 9 (NationPress) The initial stage of Kerala's local body elections showcased active polling across seven districts on Tuesday, with significant queues of voters forming at booths from the early hours.

Polling commenced at 7 a.m. following a mock polling session and will persist until 6 p.m.

By noon, the overall voter turnout exceeded 47 percent across the seven districts participating in this phase, indicating robust voter engagement.

Voting is taking place in 595 local self-governing institutions across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts.

The elections encompass three municipal corporations, 39 municipalities, seven district panchayats, 75 block panchayats, and 471 gram panchayats, distributed across a total of 11,168 wards.

Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony arrived at his polling station in the state capital alongside his wife to cast their votes.

After voting, Antony forecasted a significant political shift.

Drawing comparisons with the 2010 local body elections, when the Congress-led UDF achieved a decisive victory, Antony suggested that the results this time would serve as a 'shock treatment' for the ruling Left.

He asserted that the outcome would establish a solid groundwork for the forthcoming Assembly elections, which he claimed the UDF would win convincingly.

In contrast to the UDF's optimism, CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby contended that the LDF would replicate its substantial success in the local body elections.

He stated that the Left had consistently performed well in previous elections and that this current result would further strengthen that trend with an even greater number of seats.

Labeling the election as critical during a time of uninterrupted LDF governance in Kerala's political landscape, Baby argued that the government's continuity, welfare initiatives, and developmental projects would decisively benefit the LDF.

He also mentioned that the populace would recognize and reject what he called the UDF's anti-people and anti-development stance and the BJP's communal politics.

With polling moving steadily and prominent leaders making bold and contrasting predictions, the first phase of the local body elections has set the stage for a fierce political contest whose outcome is eagerly anticipated across Kerala.

Meanwhile, the remaining seven districts will cast their votes on Thursday, with all results expected to be announced on Saturday.