Kerala Gears Up for Elections as Parties Begin Candidate Selection

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is gearing up for the upcoming local body elections as political parties enter the candidate selection process. The ward delimitation and reservation exercises have been completed, and the reservation of chairperson posts in local bodies is expected to be finalized this week. All election procedures are set to be completed before December 20.

Discussions on seat-sharing among alliances are in their final stages. The LDF has completed most arrangements, with only a few areas left to finalize. In the UDF, talks have reached a deadlock in several places, with friction arising after Congress unilaterally announced candidates in some areas, including the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, drawing protests from alliance partners.

Within the BJP, candidate discussions are being conducted independently. In some local bodies, no one is willing to contest, while in others there is a scramble for candidates, with many aspirants vying for seats despite little chance of winning. Some candidates appear motivated by access to funds rather than genuine electoral prospects.

Observers note that there is a pro-LDF sentiment across the state, and even UDF representatives have quietly acknowledged it. Many voters recognize that local bodies have received proper attention and resources only under the ldf administration. The declaration of Kerala as the first poverty-free state, along with recent welfare announcements by the Chief Minister, has been received positively by the public and is expected to influence voter sentiment. UDF representatives have expressed discontent over the mocking of the poverty-free announcement by their senior leaders, feeling that their own efforts in local bodies are being overlooked.

Key welfare measures likely to influence the elections include increases in social security pensions, women’s safety pensions, financial support for Kudumbashree ADS units, arrears in DA and salary revisions for government employees, and the release of pending funds under various welfare schemes. Legislation such as the single dwelling place protection act, excess land regularization, law on wildlife attack prevention, and service rights has also been widely discussed and positively received by the public.

Chairperson Reservations in Local Bodies

The State Election Commission has announced the number of chairperson positions reserved at the district level. Of the 941 panchayats, 471 posts are reserved for women, including 46 for Scheduled Caste women and 8 for Scheduled Tribe women. Among 152 block panchayats, 77 chairperson posts are reserved for women, including 8 SC women and 2 ST women. Reservations have been allocated proportionally based on population at the district level.

The Election Commission is the authority responsible for finalizing which local bodies will have reserved chairperson positions. Previously unreserved posts will be considered for general category women, while reservations for SC, ST, and other categories will be determined proportionally, based on population data and previous reservation history since 1995. Local bodies that have received reservations consecutively for two terms will be excluded. The rotation of reserved posts in panchayats and block panchayats will be decided at the district level, while corporations, municipalities, and district panchayats will follow a state-level rotation system. The final list of reserved posts is expected within the next two days.

Voter Registration Ahead of Elections

Eligible voters have another opportunity to register before the elections. The State Election Commissioner, A. Shajahan, said voters can add their names to the electoral rolls on Tuesday and Wednesday, except in Mattannur local bodies. This opportunity is for those not included in the final electoral roll published on October 25. Applicants can also correct errors or update ward changes, and NRIs are eligible to apply.

The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will take further steps and publish the supplementary electoral roll on November 14. Those turning 18 on or before January 1, 2025, can register. Applications must be submitted online through the State Election Commission website: https://sec.kerala.gov.in

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