Local body polls are likely to be delayed

Thiruvananthapuram:  Local body polls in the state may be delayed due to the COVID-19 situation and ward delimitation process.

The polls will have to wait if the government goes ahead with ward delimitation process.

The process might take at least five months before it is completed. Meanwhile, new local governments are to be in power on November 12.

Election Commission is not sure about when the process would be completed, given the  COVID -19 situation.

Creating a ward in each local self body has been a policy decision of LDF government.  

This is to be executed based on the population in each local self body, pivoting on 2015 census.

This could come into being after at least five month-long process of delimitation.

Come complaint and legal issues, polls could be further delayed.

Adding to the situation, the training programme for secretaries on April 6, 7 was cancelled.

The commission will meet only after May 3 and nothing could be said about it now, said Election Commissioner V. Bhaskaran.

The government’s decision is critical regarding the delay. If the government sticks to its decision, polls could be delayed. 

Subsequently, administrators will have to be deputed to run local bodies.