The DMK has maintained its winning streak since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and has bagged nine district panchayat chairman seats, six district panchayat vice-chairman seats, 68 panchayat union chairman seats and 62 panchayat union vice chairman seats in the rural local body polls held in nine reorganized districts. Its ally Congress won two district panchayat vice chairman seats and three panchayat union vice chairman seats; the VCK won a district panchayat vice chairman seat while the MDMK won a panchayat union chairman seat. While the opposition AIADMK and its ally BJP did not win a single district panchayat chairman or vice-chairman seat, the AIADMK won a panchayat union chairman seat and a panchayat union vice chairman seat. The state election commission held indirect polls on October 22 to elect candidates for the posts of chairman and vice-chairman.
Shutters of Kerala dams being closed
The water level at many of the major dams in Kerala receded following a let up in the rains, and various district authorities, in consultation with the IMD and the state disaster management authority, have started closing the shutters which were opened to discharge excess water accumulated due to the downpour in recent days. Two shutters of Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir in Kerala were closed as the water inflow to the reservoir has reduced. Pathanamthitta district collector said shutters of Pampa dam were closed as the water level has come down to 74 per cent of the storage capacity of the reservoir.
