Kerala Files 1.64 Lakh Poll Nominations

Kerala recorded a total of 1,64,427 nominations for the upcoming two-phase local body elections, marking a significant milestone in the state’s grassroots democratic exercise.

The nomination process closed on Friday evening, setting the stage for elections across 23,576 wards and divisions in municipal corporations, municipalities, gram panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats.

Malappuram district registered the highest number of nominations at 19,959, while Wayanad recorded the lowest at 5,227.

In total, 1,08,580 candidates are contesting, including 57,227 women, 51,352 men and one transgender candidate, reflecting shifting trends in local electoral participation.

Polling will be held in two phases:

December 9, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Ernakulam.

December 11, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.

Votes will be counted on December 13, after which the new local bodies will be constituted.

According to the electoral roll published by the State Election Commission on October 25, Kerala has 2.84 crore registered voters eligible to participate in the polls.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 22, and candidates can withdraw their applications until November 24.

With robust participation and a sizable presence of women candidates, the elections are expected to be tightly contested.

The battle will largely feature a triangular contest among the CPI(M)-led Left front, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA, seen as a precursor to the Assembly elections scheduled for April–May next year.

—IANS