Fri Feb 21 12:42:49 UTC 2025: ## Kerala’s Local Body Ward Delimitation Nears Completion
**Thiruvananthapuram, February 21, 2025** – The delimitation of local body wards in Kerala is on track for completion by June 2025, according to A. Shajahan, Chairman of the State Delimitation Commission and State Election Commissioner. The Commission concluded a two-day hearing in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, addressing public petitions regarding the draft notification on ward boundaries. This completes Phase 1, encompassing grama panchayats, municipalities, and corporations.
The Commission received over 16,000 petitions, significantly more than the approximately 5,600 received in 2010. Many complaints concerned discrepancies in ward size, inaccurate house numbers, disregard for natural boundaries, and ward name changes. The increased number of petitions is attributed to the use of the Qfield app, an open-source software, which allows for precise mapping and identification of anomalies.
Mr. Shajahan stated that after addressing the remaining anomalies, the final notification for Phase 1 is expected in March. This will enable the State Election Commission to commence preparations for the 2025 local body elections. Phases 2 and 3, covering block and district panchayats respectively, are expected to proceed more quickly.
The delimitation process has resulted in an increase in the total number of wards from 21,900 to 23,612, including increases in municipalities, corporations, and panchayats.
First Piper 