THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Election Commission has asked the winners of the local government elections to take oath on December 21. Elections for municipal and corporation president will be held on December 28 at 11 am. At the same time, the election of vice-presidents will take place on the same day at 2 pm. The election of the presidents of the three-tier panchayats will be held on December 30 at 11 am and the election of the vice-presidents will be held at 2 pm on that day.

The election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons in corporations is made by the District Collector and the Commissioners appointed by the Commission in the Municipalities. Electoral officers are also responsible for conducting elections in the three tier panchayats.

The Commission has issued guidelines on swearing in. It is the responsibility of the District Collectors and the Electoral Officers appointed by the Commission in the Municipal Councils to swear in the first member of the Corporation. In the three-tier panchayats, the electoral officers of the respective institutions are responsible.

The oldest member of the elected body must be sworn in before the elector. This member swears the other members. All members elected to the local bodies will be notified in writing to take the oath.

The swearing-in ceremony of the Grama Panchayat, Block Panchayat, District Panchayat and Municipal Councils will begin at 10 am. In corporations it starts at 11.30.

Panchayat Deputy Directors in Grama Panchayats, Assistant Development Commissioners in Block Panchayats, Secretaries in Municipalities and Corporations and District Collectors in District Panchayats will make the necessary arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony.

District Collectors are generally responsible for the coordination and implementation of the functions. The first meeting of all the members will be held after the swearing-in ceremony. The first sworn member will preside. District Election Officers are required to submit a report to the Election Commission, monitoring whether all activities related to the swearing-in ceremony are being carried out on time.