Thiruvananthapuram, 25 Feb (H.S.):With preparations for the Kerala Assembly elections gathering pace, the Election Commission of India is set to visit the State on March 5, triggering heightened political activity across party lines. The visit is widely seen as a precursor to the formal announcement of the election schedule, which is expected around March 12.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will lead the delegation, accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. During their visit, the Commission is expected to review poll preparedness, law and order arrangements, logistics, and coordination with senior State officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police.

According to sources, the Assembly elections in Kerala are likely to be held in mid-April, possibly in the second week of the month. Indications suggest that the polling will be conducted in a single phase, similar to the 2021 Assembly elections. In the previous election, voting was held on April 6 in a single phase, with counting of votes conducted on May 2. Despite some discussions in political circles about the feasibility of multi-phase polling—especially in light of the recent local body elections being conducted in two phases—the State Election Commission is understood to be in favour of a single-phase election for the Assembly.

Meanwhile, the political atmosphere is set to intensify with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Kerala on March 6 to spearhead the BJP’s campaign efforts. During his visit, Mr. Modi is expected to unveil the NDA’s election manifesto for the State and hold meetings with community leaders. He is also slated to inaugurate and launch several railway development projects, underscoring the Centre’s infrastructure push in Kerala.

Political observers note that the formal announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission is likely to come after the Prime Minister’s visit. With barely weeks left for polling, major political fronts in Kerala have already accelerated candidate selection, alliance negotiations, and campaign strategies, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral contest in the State.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman