Synopsis: With an unprecedented rise in women and young candidates, alongside tighter digital oversight, this year’s local body elections are widely seen as a precursor to the political mood ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

Kerala is gearing up for the first phase of its high-stakes local body elections, with open campaigning in seven districts set to end at 6 pm on Sunday, 7 December.

The run-up to polling day on 9 December has been marked by intense street-level mobilisation, energetic last-minute pitches, and heightened monitoring by election authorities to ensure peaceful and lawful campaigning across the state.

State Election Commissioner A Shahjahan has directed political parties and candidates to ensure that the final hours of campaigning — including ‘ kottikalasham ‘ (grand

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