India
Kerala holds bypolls in 38 local body wards
The Hindu··28 Sept
Polling began on Monday for byelections to 38 local body wards in Keralam, the first after the UDF's 2026 Assembly win. Voting started at 7 am across 12 districts, with Kollam and Alappuzha excluded, the State Election Commission said. A total of 126 candidates are contesting before 3,09,713 voters. Votes will be counted on Tuesday.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Residents in 38 wards across 12 districts cast ballots for local body seats on Monday.
- Results are due on Tuesday when votes are counted.
- Palakkad has the highest candidate count, with 23 contestants across seven wards.
What's Happening
- The State Election Commission said bypolls cover every district except Kollam and Alappuzha.
- Of 3,09,713 voters, 1,64,241 are women, 1,45,468 are men and four are transgender.
- Reports described brisk early turnout after polls opened at 7 am.
Why these wards are voting now
- These are the first local body byelections after the UDF victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
- Criticism of the UDF government has focused on power cuts, ministers' foreign travel and flood relief delays.
- The SEC is running the contests under its ordinary byelection calendar for vacant wards.
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