Mock polls underway for the Kerala local body elections | WATCH

Thiruvananthapuram: Mock polls are underway across Kerala as the state gears up for local body elections conducted in two phases, with voting in the first phase covering seven districts—Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam—taking place on Tuesday.

Voters in these districts cast ballots amid high political stakes ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The second phase, encompassing the remaining districts up to Thrissur, is slated for Thursday, with results scheduled for December 13.

The polls serve as a critical mid-term assessment for the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The LDF confronts anti-incumbency after nearly a decade in power, dealing with governance controversies, financial pressures, and political controversies, yet it relies on its robust grassroots network and traditional dominance in local bodies to sustain momentum and bolster cadre morale following recent challenges.

The UDF seeks to capitalise on public discontent to regain territory lost in prior local polls, leveraging voter frustration over escalating living costs and administrative shortcomings, particularly in urban and semi-urban zones, despite persistent internal divisions.

The NDA is mounting its most aggressive campaign in Kerala to date, targeting a vote share jump from 16% to at least 25% under Union Home Minister Amit Shah's guidance, focusing on youth, welfare beneficiaries, and Ezhava communities to challenge the state's entrenched bipolar politics.

Analysts note that while an immediate seismic shift remains improbable, even modest vote fluctuations could foreshadow gradual realignment toward 2026, with UDF advances invigorating opposition forces and NDA strength signalling a potential BJP foothold in a historically resistant state.