Preparations for elections to the local bodies in Ernakulam district on Monday are nearly complete with the distribution of polling materials headed for the 3,533 polling booths going off in an orderly manner at the 26 centres in the District.
Maharaja’s College, Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara and the Bharat Mata College in Thrikkakara were some of the busiest centres where polling materials were distributed. Voting machines, ballot papers and other materials were distributed from 8 a. m.
A total of 35,000 polling officials (25,000 for direct polling duties), mostly drawn from government services, have been deployed for the smooth conduct of elections to the 111 local bodies - 84 Grama Panchayats; 14 Block Panchayats; District Panchayat; Corporation of Cochin and 11 Muncipalities, including the new ones of Thrikkakara, Eloor and Maradu.
No untoward incidents were reports from the City or its neighbouring areas. A total of 7,500 personnel have been deployed to oversee law and order in the City and the rural areas.
The district has an electoral strength of 23.24 voters of whom 11.38 lakh are males and 11.85 lakh females. They will elect 2,023 representatives to the local bodies from a total of 6,718 candidates.
