Updates from Kerala Local Body Elections

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. Section 144 — which prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area — has been in place in northern Malappuram and in some pockets of neighbouring Kozhikode and Kasaragod districts ahead of the announcement of the poll results. 

5. According to Election Commission figures, a total of 73.12 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first phase, 76.78 per cent in the second phase and 78.64 per cent in the third and final phase.