Byelections will be held in 42 local body wards in the State on May 17, the State Election Commission said on Wednesday.
With the announcement of the date, the model code of conduct has come into force in the relevant jurisdictions.
Polling will open at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on May 17. The votes will be counted on May 18.
Bypolls are scheduled in two Corporation and block panchayat wards each, seven municipality wards and 31 grama panchayat wards across 12 districts. The Ernakulam South ward of the Kochi Corporation and the Kakkad ward of the Kannur Corporation are the two Corporation wards on the list.
The following are the seven municipality wards (municipalities in brackets): Muthiyalam (Payyannur), Varikkuzhithazham (Koduvalli), Onnamkallu (Wadakkanchery), Kottakunnu (Cherpulassery), Pishari Kovil and Elamanathope (Tripunithura), and Ambalam (Ettumanur).
Anandapuram in the Irinjalakuda block panchayat and Manakkad in the Bharanikkavu block panchayat are the block panchayat wards in the list.
The notification for the byelection will be published on April 20. Nomination papers can be filed from that date till April 27. The nominations will undergo scrutiny on April 28. April 30 is the last date for withdrawing the nominations.
The State Election Commission, which is tasked with organising elections to local bodies, had published the final voters' lists on March 16, but more time was given to include names and make revisions in the data. The supplementary lists will be published on April 25.
In the Corporations and municipalities, the model code of conduct will be confined to the wards where the bypolls are scheduled. In the case of grama panchayat wards, it will be applicable to the entire panchayat. In the case of block panchayat wards, the code will apply to the entire grama panchayat which falls within the block panchayat ward limits.
As COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed by the State government, the commission will issue separate directions ahead of the bypolls after examining the health scenario.
