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8 Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates: As per the latest trends, UDF is ahead in 45 of the 86 municipalities, whereas, a neck-and-neck contest has emerged in the election to corporations with both LDF and UDF leading in three each As per the latest trends at 4 pm, the LDF is currently leading in 517 gram panchayats out of 941 while the UDF leads in 374 and NDA in 22 In the key Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the LDF has gained a sizeable lead, crossing the majority mark of 51, even as counting is still underway for the 100 wards. A BJP candidate who won from the Koyilandy municipality sustained serious injuries in a clash between BJP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers. The LDF has won 33 seats in Kochi Corporation polls, while the UDF secured a majority in 30 seats, BJP in five and Independents in four. Karat Faisal, who was not given a CPM ticket following allegations of involvement in the gold smuggling case, won in the Koduvally municipality as an Independent candidate. A close fight has emerged in Thiruvananthapuram, where the LDF is leading in 20 of 100 wards, with the BJP-led NDA ahead in 13 and the UDF in four. Initial trends indicate of the six corporations in the state, the Left is ahead in four and UDF is ahead in two corporations. In the municipalities, the UDF is leading in 47, while the Left is ahead in 27 and the BJP in 4. Congress’ mayor candidate N Venugopal lost to the BJP candidate in Kochi Corporation’s North Island ward by just one vote. BJP continues to hold its lead in the Palakkad municipality, the only urban body it had gained in the 2015 local body polls. According to early trends provided by the state election commission, LDF is leading by five wards in Thiruvananthapuram, four wards in Varkala municipality and one ward in Neyyattinkara. Counting of votes began today at 8 am for 21,893 wards in 1,200 local bodies which went to polls in three phases. At polling centres, postal votes will be counted first, followed by ballots cast by COVID-19 patients and then those cast through EVMs. All eyes are fixed on the results of the crucial Kerala local body polls — considered the semi-final ahead of the Assembly elections due next year —as vote counting is slated to get underway at 8 am today (Wednesday, 16 December). Overall, polling for a total of 21,893 wards in 1,200 local bodies (panchayats, municipalities and corporations) were held in three phases under strict COVID-19 norms. Electors were asked to sanitise their hands as they entered and exit the polling booths. Voters, who were COVID-19 positive or those place under quarantine after 3 pm on Wednesday were allowed to cast votes in their respective booths in the evening after other voters had exercised their franchise. Third phase reports highest polling Polling for the third and final phase of the local body polls concluded on 14 December with the state election commission reporting an overall turnout of 78.62 percent in the fourth northernmost districts polled. As per details issued by the SEC, Kozhikode district recorded the highest turnout with 78.98 percent in the final phase, followed by Malappuram (78.86 percent) and Kannur (77.54 percent). Kasaragod recorded the lowest voter turnout with 77.14 percent. Polls were held in the four districts to elect representatives in 6,867 wards in 354 local bodies, including two Corporations and 31 municipalities. Among the 10,842 polling stations, 1,105 were identified as sensitive and webcasting facility and special security arrangements were introduced there, State Election Commission(SEC) officials here said. Elections have been postponed in two wards — Thillankeryward in Kannur district panchayat and Thathoor division in Mavoor Panchayat of Kozhikode — due to the death of candidates. Brisk polling in second phase The second phase of the election held on 10 December for two corporations, 36 municipalities, 350 village panchayats, 58 block panchayats and five district panchayats in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad districts. The overall polling in the second phase was 76.78 percent with the highest voter turnout being recorded in Wayanad district (79.39 percent) and the lowest in Kottayam with 73.89 percent. Ernakulam reported 77.02 percent voter turnout, Thrissur 74.92 percent, Palakkad 77.83 percent. The two corporations — Kochi and Thrissur — recorded 61.90 percent and 63.62 percent, respectively. According to reports, the second phase included a total of 8,116 wards in 451 local bodies in the second phase. Of the total 12,643 polling booths in the second phase, 473 were identified as sensitive and a webcasting facility was arranged there. A 58-year-old woman fainted while returning after casting her vote for the polls at Wayanad district and later died on the way to the district hospital, officials said. District Special branch Police identified the deceased as Devi of Varinilam Colony at nearby Thrissilleri in Thirunelli panchayat. Bathery police station ASI Mathew said Senior Civil Police Officer, Karunakaran (45), collapsed and died while on guard duty at an election booth in Assumption School near Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad around 1 pm. Lowest turnout in first phase The first phase of polling concluded on 8 December during which voters cast ballots to elect representatives for 6,910 wards in 395 local bodies in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki districts. The first phase for the southernmost districts recorded a turnout of 73.12 percent. Two persons had died after casting their votes in the first phase of the polls on Tuesday. LDF expects iconic victory As reported earlier, the LDF’s prime focus during the campaign was the achievements under the four-and-half-year old Pinarayi Vijayan government. Effective disbursal of social welfare pensions, steps taken to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and implementation of various programmes through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB) and hi-tech school project were among the various initiatives touted as the achievements of the Left government during the campaign. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who voted in the final phase of the election, expressed confidence that the ruling LDF would achieve an impressive victory in the crucial local body polls, considered a curtain raiser for the Assembly elections due next year. “The Left front is going to achieve an iconic victory in the polls. Those who have voted so far have given us great support,” he told reporters in Kannur. Earlier, LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan had said that the ruling front was facing the civic polls with confidence and the recent controversies against the government had not dented its image. The remarkable contributions of the Left government in agriculture, education, health and social welfare and its effective intervention during the time of COVID-19 and floods would help the ruling front win maximum seats, he said. The Opposition Congress-led UDF focused on the controversies related to the gold smuggling case, the alleged corruption regarding the Life Mission project and the allegations against the Chief Minister’s Office in the campaign. They also raised during the grassroot-level campaign the arrest and imprisonment of CP(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s son Bineesh in a money laundering and drug case in Bengaluru and the unexpected stepping aside of Balakrishnan as the party state secretary at the threshold of the civic polls. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Mullappally Ramachandran has said the UDF is facing the civic polls with the slogan ‘a vote against corruption’. He said the Left government’s multi-level corruption had been exposed and the ruling front was facing stiff opposition from the general public and it would reflect in the civic body polls. However, the vigilance cases against various UDF leaders and the arrest of its MLAs VK Ibrahim Kunju and MC Kamaruddin in corruption cases were a setback for them while campaigning. As for the NDA, the election would show whether or not the various development programmes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre have heled the party find a place in the bipolar polity of led by LDF and UDF for decades. With inputs from PTI
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 updates: Victory for people, says Pinarayi Vijayan as LDF leads in 3 panchayat polls
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LIVE updates: As per the latest trends, UDF is ahead in 45 of the 86 municipalities, whereas, a neck-and-neck contest has emerged in the election to corporations with both LDF and UDF leading in three each
 "Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 updates: Victory for people, says Pinarayi Vijayan as LDF leads in 3 panchayat polls")
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
CPM Politburo hails victory in Kerala local body election
CPIM Politburo congratulates the people of Kerala for giving the LDF a big victory in the #KeralaLocalBodyElection. LDF has won a big majority in all 3 tiers of the panchayats, 5 out of the 6 corporations & leading in 11 of the 14 district panchayats.https://t.co/8HKAvOHM77
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) December 16, 2020
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
BJP wins Sabarimala municipality polls
The BJP-led NDA has won, till the latest count of votes, 17 of 33 wards in Pandalam. It had won just seven seats in the municipal council in 2015, reports India Today.
Victory at Pandalam is significant for the BJP as this town in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala is the home to the famous Sabarimala temple. It was also the centre of the controversy following a Supreme Court ruling allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
Sitaram Yechury says LDF has won majority in all 3 panchayat tiers
“Kerala has strongly rebuffed the negative campaign by the Congress-led UDF and the BJP of levelling baseless allegations against the LDF government and its leadership, backed by sections of the rightwing media and the unscrupulous use of central agencies by the BJP at the Centre,” he tweeted.
We congratulate and salute the people of Kerala for giving the Left Democratic Front in Kerala a big victory in the local body elections. LDF has won a big majority in all three tiers of the panchayats. pic.twitter.com/0qIFWG0ZVp
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) December 16, 2020
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
UDF must introspect, says IUML
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has called upon the UDF, particularly the Congress, to introspect its performance in the local body elections.
The IUML will meet in a day or two to evaluate the results in detail. “We cannot make any further comments about the elections now. We will say further after the review,” IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty told The Hindu.
“The UDF should review and introspect. Congress should introspect,” said Kunhalikutty.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF leads in gram, block, district panchayats and corportations
As per the latest trends, LDF has consolidated leads and win in gram, block, and district panchayats polls while being in a tie in the municipality polls with UDF. The UDF has maintained its lead in the municipality polls.
Gram Panchayats-941
LDF -515
UDF -376
NDA-28
Others-22
Block Panchayats-152
LDF-108
UDF-44
District Panchayats-14
LDF-10
UDF-4
Municipality-86
LDF-35
UDF-45
NDA -4
Others -2
Corporations- 6
LDF-3
UDF-3
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
Congress’ mayor candidate loses to BJP by 1 vote, blames EVM
Congress mayoral candidate N Venugopal has lost to the BJP candidate by one vote, in the Kochi Corporation North Island ward in the state’s local body elections.
“It was a sure seat. I can’t say what happened. There was no problem in the party. There was a problem with the voting machine. That may be the reason for BJP’s victory,” Venugopal said.
“I have not decided to go to court with the voting machine issue so far. Will check what happened exactly,” he added.
The counting of votes for local body polls in Kerala is underway at 244 counting centres across the state.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
Our strongholds are safe: PK Kunhalikutty
As per The Indian Express, IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty on Wednesday said that the results indicate that the party’s own strongholds and citadels are safe and that the party has been able to retain the vote it got last time. At the same time, he said the UDF will have to introspect on the losses it faced in central and southern Kerala.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF will make clear progress: CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
Senior CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in a tweet said that LDF’s policy and development activities were all accepted by the people. “The election results are a setback for the people for the false propaganda of the UDF-BJP. The LDF will make clear progress,” his tweet read.
As per NDTV, he also said: “All the hate campaigns against the Left have been proven wrong.”
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF leads in 517 grama panchayats
As per the latest trends at 4 pm, the LDF is currently leading in 517 grama panchayats out of 941 while the UDF leads in 374 and NDA in 22.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF sweeps Nileswaram polls with 20 seats
LDF has won by a large margin in the Nileswaram municipality with a big win in Kasaragod district. While LDF won 20 seats, UDF managed to win 9 seats, and three won by others. Compared to 2015, the UDF lost one seat to LDF and three to Others.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF retains Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
As per news agency ANI, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has managed to retain Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Out of 100 wards, LDF won 51, NDA won 34, UDF won 10 and others won 5.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
UDF retains power in Chengannur municipality
The UDF has maintained its power in Chengannur municipality by winning 14 out of the 27 seats. Meanwhile, the NDA has finished second with 8 seats while the LDF won one seat, with others taking 4 seats.
As per The Hindu, Tte Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered significant setbacks in elections to the 13 municipalities in Ernakulam district as it ceded power in three municipalities managing to retain only three while the United Democratic Front (UDF) increased its tally from the previous seven to 10.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
Sound governance led to LDF’s victory, says Prakash Karat
Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat said good grassroots level governance saw the LDF prevail over the vicious campaign of slander unleashed by the Congress and BJP to tarnish the record of the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
UDF leads in municipalities
As per the latest trends, LDF has consolidated leads and win in gram, block and district panchayats and corporations. The UDF remains in lead in municipalities.
Gram Panchayats-941
LDF -522
UDF -363
NDA-23
Others-32
Block Panchayats-152
LDF-108
UDF-44
District Panchayats-14
LDF-10
UDF-4
Municipality-86
LDF-35
UDF-45
NDA -2
Others -4
Corporations- 6
LDF-3
UDF-3
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
Candidates from senior LDF leaders’ ward win
LDF candidates have won in the wards of Oommen Chandy (former CM), Ramesh Chennithala (opposition leader), Mullappally Ramachandran (KPCC president), CPM said in a tweet.
As of latest official data, LDF is in the lead in gram, block and district panchayats and in corporations. It is lagging behind the UDF with a small margin in municipalities.
Kerala People’s Verdict:
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) December 16, 2020
LDF heading towards big win in #KeralaLocalBodyElection2020.
LDF candidates have won in the wards of Oommen Chandy (former CM), Ramesh Chennithala (opposition leader), Mullappally Ramachandran (KPCC president). pic.twitter.com/3HKFMR8L9h
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF, UDF seek support of 4 victorious Independents in Kochi
The LDF has won 33 seats in Kochi Corporation polls, while the UDF secured a majority in 30 seats, BJP in five and Independents in four. The results of two seats are stalled in the Kunnumpuram division after the electronic voting machine developed a technical snag, according to The Hindu.
Meanwhile, the UDF and LDF have started talks with the Independent candidates to bag their support and reach a majority mark in Kochi.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
People stand with LDF government: KK Shailaja
Kerala health minister KK Shailaja said that the LDF’s landslide victory in the local body elections shows that the people stand with the Pinarayi Vijayan-led front.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
BJP candidate from Koyilandy injured in clash
A BJP candidate who won from the Koyilandy municipality sustained serious injuries in a clash between BJP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers.
Police sources told The Hindu that the BJP candidate Vysakh was roughed up while he was celebrating his victory along with his party men and was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital by around 12.30 pm.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
LDF inches closer to victory in Thiruvananthapuram
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has consolidated its lead in 50 seats in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, leaving rivals UDF and NDA far behind with leads in 5 and 30 seats respectively.
LDF: 50
NDA: 30
UDF: 9
Others: 5
In 2015, the LDF is leading in six more seats than last time’s 44 tally, while the BJP’s seat share has risen by five seats.
Kerala Local Body Election Results 2020 LATEST updates
With a sweep over rural pockets, LDF widens lead
The LDF is set to come into power in 500 of the 941 panchayats, 10 of the 14 district panchayats and 110 of the 152 block panchayats in a sweep over Kerala’s rural pockets, according to state election commission data as of 1 pm. The UDF has been able to come neck-to-neck in some urban areas – municipalities and corporations – but traditional bastions like Ernakulam and Kottayam have seen a favourable response for the LDF too.
With the support allies like the Kerala Congress (M) led by Jose K Mani, the Left front has won 15 of the 22 district panchayat divisions and 9 of the 11 block divisions in Kottayam. CPM has also maintained its hold on Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.
Big guns face losses in Kerala local body polls
The UDF in the Island North seat, in which Thiruvananthapuram mayor K Sreekumar was defeated in Karikkakom ward by one vote.
Besides CPM’s mayor candidate AG Oleena was defeated in Kunnukuzhi ward. In Thrissur, BJP suffered a blow as its state general secretary B Gopalakrishnan was defeated.
The PJ Joseph faction of the UDF suffered a set back in Thodupuzha municipality as 5 of its 7 candidates lost in the elections.
Karat Faisal wins from Koduvally as Independent
Karat Faisal, who was not given a CPM ticket following allegations of involvement in the gold smuggling case, won in the Koduvally municipality as an Independent candidate.
LDF recounts development initiatives, UDF slams corruption charges against government
During the campaign for the local body polls, the ruling LDF listed the achievements on the development front under the Pinarayi Vijayan government.
Meanwhile, opposition UDF focused on corruption charges against the government and the gold smuggling case and allegations up against the Chief Minister’s office.
BJP wins big in Pandalam, center of Sabarimala protests
BJP has won 17 of the 33 seats in the Pandalam municipality, which was held by the LDF since 2015.
Pandalam is home to the erstwhile royal family which has a connection to Sabarimala temple.
Poll debutant who defeated Congress candidate in Kochi’s North Island
NDA candidate T Padmakumari defeated N Venugopal, the mayoral aspirant of the UDF, by a margin of one vote in Kochi’s Island north division. The poll debutant secured 182 of the 496 votes polled in the division, according to The Hindu.
NDA takes lead in 13 Thiruvananthapuram wards
A close triangular fight has emerged in Thiruvananthapuram, where the LDF is leading in 20 of 100 wards, with the BJP-led NDA ahead in 13 and the UDF in four. In 2015, the LDF had won 42 wards and the BJP alliance had pushed the UDF to the third position after winning 34 seats.
Kerala: BJP workers celebrate in Thiruvananthapuram, where counting is on, for #KeralaLocalBodyElection2020
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2020
As per early trends of the local body poll results, the NDA is leading in 13 wards pic.twitter.com/hbvlBZroqt
LDF wins in 7 Thiruvananthapuram wards
LDF wons in 7 wards, NDA in three and UDF in one in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, according to state election commission data.
As per trends, NDA leading in 14 wards, LDFin 21 and UDF in 4. S Pushpalatha, LDF’s mayor candidate, has lost to NDA candidate by 145 votes.
LDF leads in panchayats; neck-to-neck with UDF in municipalities, corporations
As per state election commission data, LDF is leading in gram panchayats, block panchayats, district panchayats and corporations, while UDF is leading in municipalities.
Gram Panchayats-941
LDF -403
UDF -341
NDA-29
Others-56
Block Panchayats-152
LDF-93
UDF-56
NDA-2
District Panchayats-14
LDF-11
UDF-3
Municipality-86
LDF-38
UDF-39
NDA -3
Others -6
Corporations- 6
LDF-4
UDF-2
UDF leads in 47 municipalities, Left ahead in four corporations
Initial trends indicate of the six corporations in the state, the Left is ahead in four and UDF is ahead in two corporations. In the municipalities, the UDF is leading in 47, while the Left is ahead in 27 and the BJP in 4.
Congress’ N Venugopal blames problem in voting machine for Kochi loss
Congress’ mayoral candidate, who lost by one vote in the Kochi Corporation North Island ward, said it was a sure seat and problems in the voting machine could be the reason behind his loss. “There was no problem in the party. That may be the reason for BJP’s victory. I’ve not decided to go to court with voting machine issue so far. Will check what happened exactly,” he said.
LDF leading on 10 seats in Trivandrum
As per early trends from the Trivandrum corporation, the LDF is leading in 10 seats, the UDF in one seat and the NDA in two seats, according to News18.
Visuals from a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram
Counting of votes for #Kerala local body polls underway
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2020
Visuals from Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/le8Yy6wdri
LDF leads in panchayats and municipalities, but UDF close second
Initial leads in the first hour of counting show the LDF leading in panchayats and municipalities, with UDF coming in as a close second and NDA not nearing the numbers posted so far by its rivals.
Gram panchayats
LDF – 161
UDF – 149
NDA – 15
Block panchayats
LDF – 54
UDF – 23
BJP – 1
Corporations
LDF – 3
UDF – 3
Municipalities
LDF – 28
UDF – 45
NDA – 5
District panchayats
LDF – 7
UDF – 6
Section 144 in place at several places
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area, has been imposed in Malappuram and some areas of Kozhikode and Kasargod districts to maintain law and order and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Victory celebrations cannot have more than 100 people
Victory celebrations can be conducted with a gathering of 100 people, in which children below the age of 10 and people above 65 except candidates cannot participate in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress candidate loses in Kochi’s North Island ward
Congress’ mayor candidate N Venugopal lost to the BJP candidate in Kochi Corporation’s North Island ward by just one vote, Indian Express reported. The UDF has been in power at the Kochi Corporation for a decade.
BJP leads in Palakkad municipality
BJP continues to hold its lead in the Palakkad municipality, the only urban body it had gained in the 2015 local body polls.
LDF leads in Thiruvananthapuram, Neyyattinkara, Varkala
According to early trends provided by the state election commission, LDF is leading by four wards in Varkala municipality and one ward in Neyyattinkara. In both bodies, the UDF and NDA have not led in any seat.
Initial leads show LDF leading in five wards, BJP in three wards and Congress in two wards in Thiruvananthapuram.
In 2015 polls, LDF got 37.36% votes, UDF got 37.23%
In 2015, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front made a splash in the polls winning a larger number of panchayats, block panchayats and corporations than the prime challenger — Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). But when it came to municipalities, the UDF had a slight edge. In the 14 district panchayats, both fronts shared power of seven district panchayats each.
The LDF had 37.36 percent votes and the UDF 37.23 percent. The BJP-led NDA showed its strength in key urban bodies like Trivandrum corporation and Palakkad municipality, but fared poorly in rural areas. It had 13.28 percent.
Counting to begin at 8 am
Counting of votes began today at 8 am for 21,893 wards in 1,200 local bodies which went to polls in three phases.
Kochi: Counting of votes for Kerala local body polls will start from 8 am#Kerala pic.twitter.com/UotEGI0xKg
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2020
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