Women candidates outnumber men in Kerala local bodies polls

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 18: There are more women candidates than men in the fray for the two-phase local bodies polls in Kerala, according to the figures released by the state Election Commission.

The data shows that 38,268 women and 37,281 men candidates are contesting. Saturday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

The key contest is expected to be between the traditional rival fronts - the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

The Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping to make inroads into areas which have been strongholds of the rival fronts.

The elections will be held over two days - November 2 and 5.

On November 2, polling will take place in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasargode districts, while November 5 will see voting in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.

The election is being held for 21,871 seats in 941 village, 152 blocks and 14 district panchayats besides 86 municipalities and six corporations.

Over 2.50 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballot at 35,000 polling booths.

In 2010, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had won over 60 percent of the total seats.

IANS