Thiruvananthapuram, 24 March (H.S.):The scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections will be held on Tuesday, with a total of 1,252 candidates having filed their papers across 140 constituencies, setting the stage for an intense electoral contest.
With the deadline for filing nominations ending on Monday, political parties and candidates have now shifted focus to the next crucial phase—scrutiny and withdrawals. The Election Commission has set March 26 as the last date for candidates to withdraw their nominations, and efforts are already underway across the state to persuade rebel candidates and independents to step down in order to consolidate votes.
Several constituencies have witnessed the emergence of rebel candidates from within major political fronts, posing potential challenges to official nominees. Party leaderships are actively engaged in negotiations to resolve internal dissent before the withdrawal deadline. The final electoral picture in Kerala is expected to become clear only after March 26, once the list of contesting candidates is finalised.
Meanwhile, the final electoral roll for the state is set to be published on Tuesday. This election will see approximately 2.72 crore voters exercising their franchise to determine the political future of Kerala.
Among constituencies, Koduvally recorded the highest number of nominations, with 18 candidates filing papers. Thiruvananthapuram and Manjeswaram constituencies followed closely, with 17 candidates each submitting nominations. At the district level, Kozhikode reported the highest number of nominations, with a total of 223 candidates filing their papers.
Election officials will scrutinise all nomination papers on Tuesday to ensure compliance with legal requirements. Any discrepancies or invalid submissions will be addressed during this process.
Candidates who wish to withdraw from the contest can do so until 5 pm on March 26. Following the completion of scrutiny and withdrawals, the final list of candidates will be published, offering a clear picture of the electoral battle lines across Kerala.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
