The State Election Commission of Kerala has officially announced the schedule for electing members to the standing committees in all local self-government institutions across the state. The crucial polls are slated to be held over a three-day period from January 5 to January 7, 2026.
Election Schedule and Committee Formation
State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan communicated the decision through a formal notification. According to the order, the election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons for these standing committees will be conducted immediately after the member elections conclude.
The structure and number of standing committees vary based on the tier of the local body. In grama panchayats and block panchayats, four committees will be formed: Finance, Development, Welfare, and Health & Education. District panchayats will have five committees, which include Public Works in addition to the aforementioned four.
For urban local bodies, municipalities will constitute six standing committees: Finance, Development, Welfare, Health, Public Works, and Education & Sports. The major municipal corporations will have the most extensive setup with eight committees: Finance, Development, Welfare, Health, Public Works, Town Planning, Tax Appeals, and Education & Sports.
Officials in Charge and Nomination Process
The Commission has designated specific returning officers to oversee the electoral process. For grama and block panchayats, the respective returning officers of those local bodies will conduct the elections. In the case of district panchayats and municipal corporations, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) will serve as the returning officer. Similar notifications have been issued for municipal elections.
All meetings to elect the standing committee members will be convened at the offices of the respective local bodies. A formal notice detailing the venue, date, and time of the meeting must be issued to all elected members at least five days in advance. This notice will also specify the deadline for submitting nominations. For the subsequent election of committee chairpersons, a notice will be given to the concerned committee members at least two days prior.
The nomination process has been simplified. Candidates can file nominations on their own without requiring a proposer or seconder. Furthermore, the Commission has not prescribed any specific nomination form for this purpose.
Reservation Rules and Voting Mechanism
In a significant move, reservation for women has been mandated in all standing committees, including the pivotal Finance Committee. Only women members will be eligible to contest for seats reserved for women. This reservation also extends to the posts of chairpersons of these committees.
The electoral sequence mandates that elections to these reserved positions will be held first. Elections for other, non-reserved posts will be conducted only after all reserved seats are filled.
In instances where the number of candidates exceeds the number of available posts, the election will be conducted using the single transferable vote system based on proportional representation. Voting will be conducted via secret ballot among the members present during the meeting.
This comprehensive exercise is a key step in strengthening the grassroots democratic framework in Kerala, ensuring the formation of vital sub-committees that handle crucial areas of local governance and development.
