"kerala-polls"

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, assuring alignment with the leadership amid earlier reports of discontent, and clarified he has no interest in a Kerala chief ministerial candidacy

Kerala had witnessed a fierce campaign in the run up to the polls by the ruling CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF), Opposition Congress led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP led NDA.

The ruling LDF is hoping to retain power for a second consecutive term breaking the state's four-decades-old trend of alternating between the UDF every five year.

Shah said the people of the state see BJP as an alternative for the opposition UDF and ruling LDF.

The counting began at 244 centres at 8.00 am and the final results were expected to be out by noon, Election Commission sources here said.

Cutting across villages and cities, voters could be seen wearing masks and maintaining social distance adhering to COVID-19 protocols.