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Left Democratic Front gained control of majority of muncipalities and block and grama panchayats in the civic polls in State on Saturday.
They retained two municipal corporations—Kozhikode and Kollam while the United Democratic Front retained Kochi Corporation. It was an equal tally in district panchayats.
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Malfunctioning of more than 250 electronic voting machines and heavy rain affected polling in the second and final phase of elections to the local self governments in Kerala today. Repoll in 114 booths on Friday.
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The second phase covers 12651 wards of three-tier panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations in the remaining seven districts— Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad. As many as 44388 candidates are in the fray in these districts.
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Over 76 per cent of the electorate has voted in the first phase of the polling in the elections to the local bodies in Kerala.
Sporadic incidents of violence marred the election in Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. A polling booth agent reportedly lost his eye sight in a clash near Payyannur.
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THODUPUZHA: Midway through the 16 km route from Thodupuzha to Pannimattom, you will notice a sudden lull in campaigning in the panchayat elections if you go by flex boards and mike announcements. At Kalayanthani, you are entering the Velliyamattom panchayat where the campaign is muted by consensus.
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