Officers and employees of Central and State governments, universities, boards, and companies in which the government has more than 51 per cent stakes would not be able to contest local body elections.
As per the guidelines published by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Friday, even part-time employees and those getting an honorarium are ineligible to contest the elections. But anganwadi and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers have no ban on entering the fray. Employees of cooperative societies in which the government has more than 51 per cent shares cannot run for the elections, but this would not be applicable to the staff of primary cooperative societies.
The ban would be applicable for all employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) and universities and those who have secured employment for 179 days through the employment exchange.
Chairpersons of Kudumbasree Community Development Societies have no ban on contesting the elections, but accountants in the societies are not eligible for becoming candidates.
An accused in a case has no ban on becoming a candidate, but those convicted and imprisoned would be disqualified for six years.
One person could contest only from one ward. Those who have been disqualified by the commission for failing to furnish the statement of accounts after contesting a local body elections would be ineligible to contest for the next five years. But if an elected member is disqualified by the commission for failing to hold the grama sabha meetings or attend the meetings of a standing committee, he/she will have no ban on contesting the elections.
