THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of three-phased Kerala local body polls will take place on Thursday. Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad districts will go to the polls where polling will begin at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. The last hour is only available to COVID patients and those under observation. Those who do not have a voter ID card can use any of the other eight photo ID cards.

The principal contestants include candidates from the three major political fronts which include the CPI-M led LDF, Congress-led UDF and BJP led NDA. Voting will be strictly in accordance with COVID standards. The five districts have 98,57,208 voters, including 47,28,489 men, 51,28,361 women, 93 transgender people and 265 expatriates. The third phase of polling will be held in Kannur, Kasargod, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts on the 14th. The counting of votes will be on the 16th.