Amidst the Covid pandemic, Kerala is totally geared up for the three tier local body elections as its first phase polling begins tomorrow.<br />'' <br />''The first phase will be held in 5 districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki.<br />'' <br />''This will be followed by the second phase on 10th and the final phase on 14th of this month. Counting of votes will take place on December 16.<br />'' <br />''During the first phase an aggregate 88,26,620 people are expected to cast their votes.<br />'' <br />''In this 41,58,341 men and 46,68,209 women and 70 transgenders are included.<br />'' <br />''During the initial phase the maximum number of voters are from Thiruvananthapuram district and the minimum from Idukki.<br />'' <br />''The total of 24,584 candidates are contesting for 6813 wards during the first phase.<br />'' <br />''This encompasses 318 Gram panchayats, 50 block panchayats, 2 Corporations, 20 Municipalities and 5 District Panchayats.<br />'' <br />''11,225 polling stations are set across the five districts.<br />'' <br />''A triangular contest is witnessed in all the constituencies from among Kerala's three principal political coalitions – CPM-led Left Democratic  Front (LDF), Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).<br />'' <br />''Distribution of polling essentials began today.<br />'' <br />''The special postal ballot system for the covid patients had already begun a few days ago.<br />'' <br />''A total of 56,122 personnel have been assigned various responsibilities as part of their election duty.<br />'' <br />''In all 5 districts where the first Phase polling takes place tomorrow only silent campaigns are permitted today as part of the election code of conduct.<br />'' <br />''Massive political gatherings and rallies were curbed as part of the Election Commission's Covid Guidelines.<br />'' <br />''An aggregate 16,968 policemen are providing all the necessary security assistance for the entire election procedure.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The entire election process will be held adhering to strict covid guidelines including proper and timely sanitizing, masks and social distancing.</span><br />