Local body polls to be held in October in two phases

Thiruvananthapuram: Elections to local self-government bodies in Kerala will be held in two phases in the end of October. State Election Commission has decided that if the transmission of COVID-19 continues then the polls will be held as per the protocol and by taking adequate precautions. The elections cannot be postponed as a new governing committee will have to take to office before November 12.

The time of publishing the voters' list will be decided on Saturday. Only a few days’ work is remaining in this regard. The number of applicants have doubled this time. If there are mistakes found in the published voters list, applicants will be able to correct the mistakes before the election.

There are more than four months left for the elections. By this time, the transmission of the pandemic is expected to subside. However, if the elections are postponed until the current crisis is over, the course of action cannot be completed in the stipulated time.

Election Commissioner V Bhaskaran, said that election in all local self-government bodies except Mattannur municipality will take place within a gap of two days.

The election in Mattannur municipality has been postponed as the tenure of the governing committee is yet to be completed.

Elections will be held in 14 District Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats, 941 Gram Panchayats, 86 Muncipalities, 6 Corporations.