Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s two-phase local body elections concluded on Thursday, wrapping up polling across all 14 districts with a strong voter turnout and a few scattered incidents. After the southern districts voted in the first phase on Tuesday, the northern districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod went to the polls on December 11.

The preliminary estimates indicate that the turnout has crossed 75 per cent, a shade better than the first phase. The final statewide tally is expected latest by Friday early morning.

Voting began at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m., marking the completion of a crucial electoral exercise ahead of next year’s Assembly polls. Meanwhile, political tempers remained high as campaigns continued beyond polling day through

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