Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 8 -- Public campaigning for the first phase of the elections to the three-tier rural and urban local bodies in Kerala culminated on Sunday evening as all three major fronts - Congress-led UDF, CPI(M)-led LDF and the BJP-led NDA - expressed optimism about performing well in the polls.

Roadshows, rallies and displays of strength by party cadres were the highlight at major intersections in the state as workers and the general public counted down the last hours of frenetic campaigning. Monday will mark silent campaigning before polling on Tuesday.

Local bodies in seven districts of the state - Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Kottayam and Ernakulam -- will head to the polls on Tuesday (...