Thiruvananthapuram: Despite the Covid pandemic and the strict measures to curb it, voters thronged the polling booths in five central districts in the second phase of the Kerala local body elections, today. Special arrangements were made and PPE suits were provided to poll agents as COVID-10 patients too turned out to cast their vote.
Brisk polling was witnessed in many places pushing the voting percentage to cross 76.28 %. The local bodies where the second phase of polling was held included two corporations, 36 municipalities, 350 village panchayats, 58 block panchayats and five district panchayats.
Also read: State Election Commission prepared to conduct local body elections in Kerala
The first phase of elections in 5 of the 14 districts had seen 75 per cent turnout on August 8.
The third phase in four districts – Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod – would be on December 14. Counting would be held on December 16.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has convened a meeting of senior officials next week to decide on opening of schools in the state which were closed following the outbreak of the pandemic.
The Covid Expert Committee had recommended that Classes for tenth standard and higher secondary can be resumed in January. Covid-19 was detected in 4,875 more people in the state yesterday. Covid death toll has touched 2,507. The current test positivity rate is 9.26.
– globalbihari bureau
