A group of youths show their identity cards while waiting in a queue to cast their votes for the local body elections at GHSS Vennakara in Palakkad on Thursday. | Photo credit: KK Mustafah
Over 18.55 lakh voters (76.23%) opted to cast their vote in the local body elections held in Palakkad district on Thursday. While 9.84 million women (76.76%) went to the polling stations, the number of men who voted was 8.71 million (75.64%). However, there may be a slight change in polling booth numbers as voting continued beyond the scheduled 6pm deadline in many booths in the district.
Among the seven municipalities in the district, Chittur-Thathamangalam recorded the highest voting percentage at 81.41%. But Palakkad municipality, which has the largest number of voters (1,18,759), recorded the lowest voting percentage: 65.08%.
Among the 13 blocks, Chittur block dominated with 81.26% votes, followed by Nenmara (79.69%), Kollengode (78.57%), Kuzhalmannam (78.03%) and Attappady (78.03%) blocks. Malampuzha block lagged behind with 74.1% polls.
Excise and Local Government Minister MB Rajesh voted along with his family at a booth at KVUP School, Kailiyad, Ward 16 of Chalavara grama panchayat.
85-year-old Thanka shows her inked finger and voter’s card after casting her vote at LP Government School in Kallikad on Thursday. | Photo credit: KK Mustafah
Power Minister K. Krishnankutty cast his vote along with his family at SNUP School, Nallamadan Challa, Vilayodi.
Elections across the district were largely peaceful. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) alleged that an Indian Muslim League (IUML) worker in Karimba panchayat tried to cast two votes. The IUML worker, who had already voted in Ward 15, allegedly tried to vote again in Ward 11. The police said they were investigating the CPI(M) complaint lodged against Tajudheen.
United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for Vandazhi panchayat ward 11, Sajita Vipin, alleged that CPI(M) workers forcibly entered her house and assaulted her family on Thursday morning. Her husband Vipin, her mother Pankajam and her 11-month-old baby were injured in the incident.
Polling stations opened briskly at 7 a.m., with voters arriving at 3,054 booths in groups or alone. Of these, 2,749 were in panchayats and 305 in municipalities. There were 6724 candidates in the district.
People wait in a queue to cast their votes for the local body elections at LP Government School at Kallikad in Palakkad on Thursday. | Photo credit: KK Mustafah
Sensitive stations
A total of 284 polling stations were marked as sensitive. Additional security officers were stationed in all 180 sensitive booths located on the Internet.
The Electoral Commission deployed 4,366 control units and 12,393 voting units for voting. About 4,500 police personnel were on poll duty, supported by a security team comprising 25 deputy superintendents, 40 inspectors, 300 sub-inspectors and a 140-strong central paramilitary force.
The district has 20 census centers. The counting of votes will take place on Saturday morning.
Published – 11 Dec 2025 21:18 IST
