THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 75,000 candidates are in the fray for the local body polls. The electoral scene emerged late on Monday, the last date for withdrawal of nominations. While 54,494 candidates are in the fray in 941 grama panchayats, the candidates contesting in 152 block panchayats and 14 district panchayats are 6,877 and 1,317, respectively. The 86 municipalities in the state will see 10,339 candidates in the fray. In the six corporations, 1,986 candidates will fight it out.
Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner V Bhaskaran on Monday convened a meeting of the directors of panchayat and urban affairs to assess the preparedness for the polls. Bhaskaran directed officials to intervene in case any violation of Model Code of Conduct is detected and to inform the State Election Commission (SEC) if its intervention is required.
The secretaries of panchayats, municipalities and corporations should set up polling stations in their respective jurisdiction.The centres for distribution and collection of polling material in panchayats will be set up at the block level. Block panchayat secretaries have been directed to ensure sufficient infrastructure in such centres.
In municipalities and corporations, the centres should be located in their respective jurisdiction. The onus of ensuring adequate infrastructure facilities in the centres will be on secretaries of these local bodies. Special monitoring teams will be set up at the departmental level to scrutinise the election process and to ensure that polling officials are carrying out the SEC’s instructions, including implementation of Covid protocol.
Trivia corner
In Kottayam, the battle to the district panchayat is mostly being regarded as a direct fight between Jose K Mani and Joseph groups of KC(M). Also, BSP, AAP and some independents are contesting in the Kottayam district panchayat elections from various divisions.
Sixth innings
The local body elections this year would be the sixth outing for Johnson Joseph, the 63-year-old Congress candidate from Nalanchira ward under the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Johnson had been the Opposition leader in the council for three consecutive terms.