Local body elections; second phase voting progressing, poll percentage crosses 50

THRISSUR: The second phase of the local body elections in Kerala is progressing. Polling percentage has crossed fifty by noon. 51.05% polling has recorded as per the figures till 1:15 pm. Malappuram is leading in the polling.
A voter collapsed and died in the polling booth at Morazha South LP School in Kannur. The dead is lottery agent identified as Sudheesh Kumar (48). The body has been shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Pariyaram. There is a complaint that CPM activists thrashed a BJP booth agent identified as Rahul at Maniyoor Central LP School by entering the booth. Rahul has been admitted in the Mayyil family health center with injuries.
Pulliode division UDF candidate K Lathika at Kadirur in Kannur was attacked. Some entered into the booth and forcefully snatched the voters list from her.
A vehicle hit and ran an age-old voter identified as Akkukandiyil Sarada at Venduttayi in Pinarayi. The vehicle fled from the place. Sarada is admitted in Tellicherry Co-operative hospital.

Former minister C Raveendranath cast his vote at Thrissur Sree Kerala Varma College.
Football legend I M Vijayan, who came to cast his vote in Devamatha CMI Public School in Thrissur, met district collector Arjun Pandian IAS were seen engaging in cordial talks.
There was an attempt for an attack against the Muslim League female candidate at Thaikadappuram in the Nileswaram municipality. A complaint has been filed to the police.
The complaint of sexual abuse against former CPM MLA was hidden by the chief minister, said Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. The chief minister is protecting the womanizers. Hypocrisy is not right. He added that Congress has taken exemplary action in the issue of Rahul Mamkoottathil.
The political wave is favorable for the left front, said CPM state secretary M V Govindan. He added that the country will know that this election is a curtain raiser before the assembly election and LDF will continue with a great majority.
Minister M B Rajesh cast his vote at Kayiliad KVUP School, the second booth in ward 15 of Chalavara in Palakkad.
Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar cast his vote at the booth in Poonoor GMUP School.
Abbas Ali Shihab Thangal, Sadiqali Shihab Thangal, P K Kunhalikutty and Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal pose after voting.
Minister K Krishnankutty and family cast vote at S N U P School at Nallamadan Challa in Vilayodi.
BJP leader K Surendran said there will be strong public outrage against those involved in the Sabarimala gold theft. The investigation in the gold theft is concluding with former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, A Padmakumar. There is no investigation against the elite. The voters are strongly annoyed by this. Devaswom loot has happened during the UDF rule too, he responded.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his wife cast their votes in Dharmadom.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph cast his vote. He said that the anti-people measures of the government will end by today. The government is protecting the CPM leaders arrested in the gold theft case. He also responded that the investigation has frozen during the election.
Muslim League state president Sayyid Sadiqali Shihab Thangal cast vote. The victory of UDF is certain and the anti-government sensation would influence the people, he responded after voting.
Mock polling was interrupted at ward 13 (Parakkulam) of Muthuvalloor village panchayat.
The election today is for 182 divisions in seven district panchayats, 1177 divisions in the 77 block panchayats, 9015 wards in 470 village panchayats, 1829 wards in 47 municipalities and 188 wards under three corporations.
Over 1.53 crore voters will cast their vote today. This includes 80.9 lakh female voters and 72.46 male voters. 18,274 polling stations have arranged in seven districts.