Kannur, Dec 11 (NationPress) Kerala has reached a pivotal moment in its local body elections, with the second phase of voting taking place across seven northern districts. By 9:00 a.m., the State Election Commission reported that 16 percent of ballots had been cast.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who voted alongside his family at Kattilapeedika under Pinarayi panchayat, conveyed his belief that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is moving towards a “historic victory”.

He highlighted the substantial public backing for the Left Front and asserted that controversies, such as the Sabarimala gold smuggling case, would have “no impact whatsoever” on voter sentiment.

"The believers have recognized that stringent measures in such matters were enforced solely due to the current administration," he remarked.

Polling commenced at 7 a.m. in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, and will wrap up at 6 p.m.

With southern Kerala having participated in the first phase, today’s voting signifies the completion of local body elections across all 14 districts within the state.

However, the day has seen scattered incidents and brief technical difficulties. In Pattissery ward of Nellaya, Palakkad, polling was paused for half an hour due to a malfunctioning voting machine at Booth No. 1, which necessitated a replacement. A similar delay occurred at Manisseri West’s Ward 6 in Vaniyamkulam, where voting stalled for 15 minutes as officials installed a new machine.

Additionally, eight individuals sustained injuries from a bee attack at the Valakkavu LP School polling station in Thrissur, occurring as voters were leaving after casting their votes. All injured were taken to a private hospital in Nadathara.

Meanwhile, political factions exchanged pointed comments as polling progressed. Former state Congress president and seasoned leader Mullappally Ramachandran asserted that the UDF was on track for a “clear victory”, claiming the populace has evaluated the state government and is issuing a negative mandate against it.

Conversely, BJP veteran and former Goa governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai predicted that the party would “double its current seats”, expressing renewed confidence in this election. He accused both the LDF and UDF of colluding wherever the BJP gains traction.

Former State BJP president K. Surendran argued that the NDA would make significant strides, labeling the election a “setback for the Sabarimala gold smugglers”. He further accused the UDF of ties with Jamaat-e-Islami and the LDF of associations with the Popular Front—claims he believes voters will recognize.

As polling concludes across Kerala by evening, all eyes now turn to the counting day on December 13 and the political implications of the final results.