Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala votes on Tuesday in the first phase of the local body elections , with districts up to Thrissur (seven districts) heading to the polls, setting the stage for a politically-significant contest ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The polling for the second phase (remaining seven districts) will be held on Thursday, with counting scheduled for December 13.

For the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the verdict will serve as a crucial mid-term political barometer.

The LDF enters the contest burdened by anti-incumbency after nearly a decade in power, amid controversies over governance, financial stress, and multiple political flashpoints.

However, the L

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