Mon Dec 08 15:43:24 UTC 2025: Summary:

The Idukki District Collector, Dineshan Cheruvatt, led a team to Edamalakkudy, the first tribal panchayat in the district, to oversee preparations for upcoming local body elections. The team faced challenges due to poor road connectivity, requiring them to walk several kilometers. Following delimitation, there are 14 wards with 41 candidates competing. Over 4,700 officials have been assigned to the 14 polling booths, and a significant security presence of nearly 2,000 personnel, including police, excise, and forest officials, has been deployed to ensure peaceful polling. A total of 9,121,333 voters are expected to participate in the elections across Idukki’s various local bodies.

News Article:

Idukki Gears Up for Local Body Polls; Collector Oversees Preparations in Remote Tribal Panchayat

Idukki, December 8, 2025 – With local body elections set for Tuesday, Idukki District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt led an official team to Edamalakkudy, the district’s first tribal panchayat, to review poll arrangements. The team faced logistical challenges, walking several kilometers to reach the remote area due to the lack of proper road connectivity.

Following recent delimitation, Edamalakkudy now consists of 14 wards with 41 candidates vying for positions. Authorities have deployed 56 polling officials to staff the 14 polling booths within the tribal panchayat.

“The district has completed all arrangements to ensure smooth and fair polling,” stated an official spokesperson.

A total of 9,121,333 voters are eligible to cast their ballots across Idukki’s 52 grama panchayats, eight block panchayats, two municipalities, and district panchayat. In total, 3,100 candidates are contesting the elections. More than 4,700 officials have been assigned to polling duty.

Security has been significantly bolstered, with a deployment of nearly 2,000 personnel from various departments. This includes 17 Dy.SPs, 51 Circle Inspectors, 238 Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 1842 civil police officers, 84 home guards, 177 special police officers, and 92 officials from the excise, Motor Vehicle Department, and Forest Department. Authorities are determined to ensure peaceful and secure elections throughout the hilly district of Idukki.

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