First phase of local body polls begins; Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam go to polls today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the first day of the local body elections, polling started in seven districts Tuesday morning at 7 am. First phase of polling is being held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam. Voters reached in many polling booths early in the morning itself. Voting is till 6 pm.
The elections are being held at 11,168 wards in 595 local bodies including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kochi corporations. There are 15,432 polling stations in the first phase of which 480 are sensitive. There are 186 sensitive booths in Thiruvananthapuram.
There are 36,630 candidates and 1.32 crores voters in the first phase of election. Public campaign in the districts from Thrissur to Kasaragod where the elections are held on December 11, will end today. Votes will be counted in all booths on December 13.