Saturday, April 29 2006 13:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Polling for the second phase of assembly elections in Kerala, covering 66 constituencies in six central and northern districts, began this morning.

The polling, which started at 7 a.M., was being held in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts of the state.

The key contestants include CPI-M polit bureau member V S Achuthanandan, DIC-K leader K Muraleedharan and several Congress and Indian Union Muslim League nominees in the UDF Ministry.

The first phase of polling in six southern districts was held on April 22.