Thiruvananthapuram: The State Election Commission has announced that a special election notification for three local body wards, where polling was earlier deferred following the demise of candidates, will be released today. State Election Commissioner A. Shahjahan confirmed that the rescheduled elections will take place on January 13.
The wards going to the polls include the Vizhinjam division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Payimpadam ward of Moothedam Grama Panchayat in Malappuram district, and the Onakkur ward of Pampakkuda Grama Panchayat in Ernakulam district. Counting of votes in all three wards is slated for January 14.
According to the revised election calendar, candidates may submit their nomination papers until December 24. Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on December 26, while December 29 has been fixed as the final date for withdrawal of candidature. The Election Commission clarified that candidates who had already filed nominations before the polls were postponed are not required to submit fresh papers.
The Commission further stated that the model code of conduct will continue to remain in effect throughout the entire Moothedam and Pampakkuta grama panchayats, and specifically within the Vizhinjam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, until the completion of the election process.
Political attention is particularly focused on the Vizhinjam division, where the election outcome is expected to have a decisive impact on the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council. The BJP currently holds 50 seats in the 101-member council and is just one seat short of securing an absolute majority. As a result, the Vizhinjam ward has emerged as a key battleground, with the party viewing a victory there as crucial to consolidating its position in the civic body.