Thiruvananthapuram: The Election Commission of India has received a total of 2,125 nomination papers from 1,254 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections 2026, Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar confirmed on Tuesday.

Kerala voters will head to the polls on April 9 to elect 140 new legislators to the State Assembly.

Kelkar said that scrutiny of nomination papers is currently underway, followed by the withdrawal window. “The final list of valid candidates will be published thereafter, and ballot printing will be completed within the next two weeks,” he added.

Highlighting election preparedness, Kelkar noted that 1.75 lakh polling personnel have undergone randomisation and training. For the first time, the Commission has introduced online training modules with certification, supplementing traditional physical sessions.

Special attention has been given to postal voting, particularly for voters aged above 85 and persons with more than 40 per cent disability. Micro observers will accompany polling teams to ensure transparency, alongside representatives of political parties. Essential service personnel are also included under the postal ballot facility.

To maintain law and order, 145 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have been deployed, with 30 companies already conducting area domination and vulnerability assessments.

Kerala will have 30,471 polling stations, all under enhanced surveillance. The total electorate stands at 2.71 crore, including 273 third-gender voters and 53,984 service voters.

Kelkar confirmed strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, with surveillance teams, flying squads, and check-posts actively monitoring for violations.

On the recent controversy regarding the appearance of a BJP Kerala unit seal on an official communication, Kelkar termed it a “serious lapse.” He clarified that a document mistakenly circulated by a political party representative contained the party seal. “The error was identified immediately, the communication withdrawn, and a corrected version issued. Disciplinary action, including suspension, has been initiated pending inquiry,” he said.

Kelkar urged citizens to avoid misinformation and rely solely on official updates from the Election Commission.

This comprehensive poll preparedness and stringent monitoring aim to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in Kerala, reinforcing the state’s robust electoral framework.

IANS