Crucial Kerala Local Polls Phase 2 Begins; CM Confident of LDF Win

• Second phase of Kerala local body polls commenced in seven districts, with CM Pinarayi Vijayan confident of an LDF win.
• CM Vijayan dismissed the Sabarimala gold loss issue's impact and hinted at a "criminal gang of sexual perverts" in the Congress.
• UDF leaders, including IUML's Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, P K Kunhalikutty, and M K Muneer, predicted a huge victory for their front.
• Over 1.53 crore voters will elect representatives to 12,931 wards across 604 local bodies in this phase.
• The local body polls are viewed as a key indicator ahead of next year’s state assembly elections.

Why It Matters: Kerala local elections predict state assembly results.