The Aryavarth Express
Kannur (Kerala): Congress leader Shama Mohamed on Thursday cast her vote at Government UP School Muzhathadam in Kannur (Polling Station No. 001) during the ongoing Kerala local body elections. After voting, she raised concerns over the absence of VVPAT machines in the panchayat polls and urged voters to ensure their choice is properly registered on the EVMs.
“I request everyone to keep the button pressed until the sound goes off because there are no VVPATs for Panchayat elections. I assumed VVPATs would be available, but there are none. Press the button till the sound confirms your vote,” she told reporters, while encouraging citizens to turn out and vote “for the sake of democracy and the country.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also voted in Kannur, at Cherikkal Junior Basic School, as the second phase of polling got underway. Speaking to the media, he expressed confidence in the Left Democratic Front’s performance, saying even traditional UDF strongholds were showing support for the LDF. He dismissed concerns around the Sabarimala issue and criticised both the BJP and UDF for “moving in the same direction” on the matter. He added that “Muslim masses have rejected Jamaat-e-Islami” and reaffirmed that the government stands with the survivor in the ongoing case.
Local body elections in 1,199 out of Kerala’s 1,200 bodies are being held in two phases—December 9 and December 11. Counting of votes is scheduled for December 13.
The state has 11,168 wards across various tiers:
Grama Panchayats: 8,310 wards in 471 bodies
Block Panchayats: 1,090 wards in 75 bodies
District Panchayats: 164 wards in 7 bodies
Municipalities: 1,371 wards in 39 bodies
Corporations (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi): 233 wards in 3 bodies
The first phase of polling recorded a 70.9% voter turnout. District-wise turnout included:
Thiruvananthapuram: 67.4%
Kollam: 70.36%
Pathanamthitta: 66.78%
Alappuzha: 73.76%
Kottayam: 70.94%
Idukki: 71.77%
Ernakulam: 74.58% (highest)
Polling hours were from 7 am to 6 pm.
