As the current term of the Kerala Legislative Assembly nears its end, a team from the Election Commission of India is expected to visit the state early next month to evaluate readiness for the upcoming Assembly elections. The new 140-member Assembly must be established by May, with April likely being the period for polling. Led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the team includes officials familiar with Kerala’s administrative and political landscape.
The Election Commission, under Kumar’s leadership, is contemplating holding the Kerala Assembly elections in April, suggesting a single-phase poll across all 140 constituencies in the state’s 14 districts. Kerala’s history of single-phase polling, attributed to its compact geography, high voter literacy, and efficient election machinery, is likely to continue. The team’s visit will focus on crucial aspects such as law and order, central forces deployment, election expenditure monitoring, electoral roll status, and measures for ensuring fair polling.
In addition to assessing logistical aspects, the Election Commission is expected to review the use of technology and strategies to combat misinformation during the election campaign. The political scenario in Kerala foresees a three-way competition among the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by CPI(M), the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Congress, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP. Currently, the LDF holds a significant majority in the Assembly with 97 seats, while the UDF has 42 seats.
The NDA, despite an expanding voter base, lost its sole seat from the 2016 polls. A recent development in the political landscape occurred with the disqualification of ruling front legislator Antony Raju, leaving one Assembly seat vacant due to his three-year imprisonment sentence in a criminal case. This event has sparked political repercussions as the state gears up for the upcoming elections. With the Election Commission intensifying its involvement, Kerala’s election process is progressing towards its final stages.
