Social Democratic Party of India

Thiruvananthapuram: 75.72 per cent polling was recorded today in the first phase of local body elections in Kerala covering seven districts which was marred by sporadic violence in some parts of the state. Coming as it does six months before the assembly elections, both ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and opposition Congress-led UDF saw the civic polls as a test for the bigger battle due in May next year. 
Social Democratic Party of India, newly formed political organizations with support base of Muslims and Dalits, is also testing their waters first time in Kearala civic polls and also Janakeeya Munnani under the auspices of Jama-athe Islami. SDPI has fielded more than 2,500 candidates throughout Kerala. 
A distinct feature of the civic elections this time is that 50 per cent of the seats are reserved for women, giving them a decisive role in grassroot level politics. Police fired two rounds in the air at Kannavam in the politically volatile Kannur District to disperse a group of alleged BJP supporters who attacked them with stones and countrymade bombs, sources said. Minor scuffles involving workers of BJP, CPI-M and Muslim League were reported from parts of Kannur and Kozhikode districts. However, none was injured in the violence. 
Election authorities ordered repoll in two booths in ward 7 of the Pattuvam grama panchayat following complaints by the United Democratic Front (UDF) that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) snatched ballot papers in the booths. The repoll would take place on October 25. Repoll was also ordered in a booth in ward 36 of the Payyannur municipality when the electronic voting machine was allegedly destroyed. In another incident, the UDF had reportedly boycotted polling in ward 7 of Cheruthazham grama panchayat after complaining that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) workers cast bogus votes. There were reports of cases of alleged clashes and intimidation of booth agents in some parts.
UDF candidate in Temple Ward in the Kathirur panchayat Pothuvattil Sreedharan alleged that CPI (M) snatched voters’ lists from two UDF booth agents. The CP I(M) workers there said that the election in the polling station at the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Kathirur was peaceful. Large number of police personnel was deployed outside the polling station in view of the tension. Three people were injured in the clash between CPI(M) and Indian Union Muslim League workers at Thavam in Cherukunnu. 
According to State Election Commission sources, slightly 75.72 per cent of the more than one crore voters cast their ballots in the seven districts that went to polls today. The highest turnout of 76 per cent was recorded in Kozhikode, followed by Wayanad, Kasaragod (75 each), Kannur (73), Pathanamthitta (71), Kollam (69) and Thiruvananthapuram (58). There are 29,901 candidates in the fray for 9,238 wards spread around three-tier panchayats and urban civic bodies. The next phase of polling covering the remaining seven districts would be held on October 25 for which the campaign ended this evening. Counting would be held on October 27.
In another incident, a polling official on duty identified as Sadanandan (48) died at the polling booth at Sree Narayanam L.P. School in ward 56 at Madapathur here. He died after fainting at the booth just after the polling began. The polling continued in the booth.