THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The local body elections in the state will be held from December 8 in three phases, state election commissioner V Bhaskaran told a news conference here on Friday. The polling will be held in a staggered manner in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first-phase elections on December 8 will cover Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki districts.
The elections in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad will be held in the second phase on December 10 while the third and last phase on December 14 will cover Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod.
The results will be announced on December 16. The election notification will be issued on November 12 while the nominations should be submitted on November 19. The scrutiny of applications will be held on November 20 while the last date for withdrawal of nomination is November 23.
The state election commissioner said the state had witnessed local body elections in three phases only once in the past, that too long ago. "The elections will be held to 1,199 local bodies in a phased manner in view of the Covid-19 outbreak and spread. All necessary arrangements are being put in place and the election will be held by strictly following the Covid-19 protocol. The newly elected governing bodies can assume office before December 23," Bhaskaran said.
Postal voting facility for those testing +ve for Covid
The state has 1,200 local bodies but the election to Mattannur municipality will be held only after two years, when the term of its governing council expires. Postal voting facilities will be given for those testing positive for Covid-19 and those in quarantine.
The state government has offered to provide PPE kits to Covid-positive persons to cast their votes but the commission has not taken a decision on it. If a candidate is tested positive during the campaign, he/she should refrain from campaign.
The voting time has been increased by an hour, from 7am to 6pm, in view of the pandemic. The model code of conduct has come into effect on Friday.