Thiruvananthapuram,13 Dec (H.S.):Counting of votes for the Kerala local body elections began at 8 am on Saturday amid tight security arrangements across the State. Early trends indicate a strong showing by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has taken the lead in major urban centres including the Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi corporations.
According to preliminary figures available from the Election Commission, the LDF is ahead in 136 grama panchayats, 41 block panchayats and 29 municipalities. In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has so far secured leads in seven wards, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) is trailing behind the LDF in several key local bodies during the initial rounds of counting.
The counting process began with postal ballots, following which votes recorded through electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being tallied in a round-by-round manner. The Election Commission’s TREND software is providing real-time updates throughout the day, enabling voters, political parties and the media to closely track ward-wise leads and results across all three tiers of local self-government.
Prior to the commencement of counting, strong rooms storing the EVM control units were opened in the presence of returning officers, assistant returning officers, election observers, contesting candidates and their authorised agents. Control units from each ward were then transported to the designated counting halls, where tabulation is being carried out under strict supervision.
Counting for grama panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats is taking place at block-level counting centres, while municipalities and municipal corporations are conducting counting in their respective institutions. Security personnel have been deployed at all centres to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
The State Election Commission has directed that the entire election process, including the declaration of results, must be completed by December 18, 2025. In this regard, the Local Self-Government Department has already issued guidelines for the assumption of office by newly elected representatives.
In local bodies where the term of the existing governing committees ends on December 20, newly elected members and councillors are required to take oath and assume charge on December 21. Certain local bodies in Malappuram district, where the current terms expire later, have been allotted separate dates for oath-taking.
As counting progresses through the day, clearer trends are expected to emerge, offering a more definitive picture of the political balance in Kerala’s grassroots institutions.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
