Governor returns ordinance on ward delimitation; govt to move election commission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has returned the ordinance on ward delimitation. Raj Bhavan clarified that it cannot be considered as the code of conduct is in place and the permission of the election commission should be taken. With this, the government may approach the election commission. The cabinet meeting held online the other day decided to issue the ordinance. It was then sent to the Governor for approval.

The last division of wards in the state was in 2010. If the election commission gives its approval, the delimitation commission will come into existence with the state election commissioner as chairman and including state secretaries. Based on the guidelines of the commission, the local body secretaries will redefine the boundaries. The process will be completed within six months. There will be 1200 wards more.

In January 2019, before the last local elections, an ordinance was placed for the delimitation of wards, but the governor did not sign it. The Governor signed the bill passed by the Assembly in February 2020 but abandoned the amendment in favor of another ordinance due to the impossibility of ward division during Covid.

In 2015, a partial delimitation took place. 69 gram panchayats, 32 municipalities and Kannur Corporation were newly formed. However, the high court cancelled the formation of grama panchayats and four municipalities. The rest of the local bodies have the current wards as per the 2001 census.

It is estimated that there is one ward for every thousand people in the grama panchayat. When dividing the 941 panchayats, 87 municipalities and six corporations on the basis of population, topography, etc., there will be a change in the boundaries of almost all the wards. The division will take place later in the Mattanur Municipality where the term of the governing body has not yet expired. Reorganization will be done in 21,865 wards of remaining 1119 local bodies. In the second phase, 152 block panchayats will be done. District panchayats in the final phase.