Tue Dec 16 10:56:36 UTC 2025: Summary:

Kerala’s State Election Commissioner has announced that special elections for three local body wards, which were postponed due to candidate deaths, will be held on January 13, 2026, with vote counting on January 14, 2026. The election notification will be issued on Wednesday. Nomination papers can be filed until December 24, 2025, with scrutiny on December 26, 2025, and withdrawal deadline on December 29, 2025. Existing candidates don’t need to re-file. While the general model code of conduct has been lifted, it remains in effect within the affected wards.

News Article:

Kerala Announces Special Elections for Three Local Body Wards

Thiruvananthapuram – Kerala’s State Election Commissioner, A. Shajahan, announced Tuesday that special elections will be held on January 13, 2026, for the Payimbadam ward (Malappuram district), Onakkoor ward (Ernakulam), and Vizhinjam ward (Thiruvananthapuram). The elections to these wards were initially postponed following the unfortunate deaths of candidates. Vote counting is scheduled for January 14, 2026.

The official election notification will be issued on Wednesday. The deadline for filing nomination papers is December 24, 2025, with scrutiny of nominations on December 26, 2025, and the final date for withdrawal on December 29, 2025. The Commission clarified that candidates who had already filed nominations prior to the postponement do not need to submit new paperwork.

While the general model code of conduct for the state has been lifted, it will remain enforced within the boundaries of the affected wards in Moothedam and Pambakuda grama panchayats, and the Vizhinjam Corporation ward. Residents are urged to participate in the democratic process.

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