Thiruvananthapuram, March 24 (NationPress) – The Election Commission of India has officially recorded a total of 2,125 nomination submissions from 1,254 candidates in preparation for the forthcoming Kerala Assembly elections, as announced by Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar on Tuesday.

The elections are scheduled for April 9, where voters will select 140 new legislators.

Kelkar indicated that the scrutiny of nominations is currently in progress, followed by a window for withdrawal.

“The final roster of eligible candidates will be released subsequently, and the printing of ballots is set to be finalized within the next two weeks,” he mentioned.

Emphasizing the preparedness for the elections, Kelkar pointed out that 1.75 lakh polling personnel have undergone a rigorous training process.

In a pioneering move, the Commission has rolled out online training modules that come with certification, complementing traditional physical sessions.

There is a special emphasis on postal voting, particularly for voters over the age of 85 and those with a disability exceeding 40 percent.

To ensure transparency, micro observers will accompany teams, with representatives from political parties present throughout the process.

Additionally, essential service personnel are also included in the postal ballot provisions.

To maintain law and order during the elections, 145 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including units from the Central Reserve Police Force, are being deployed, with 30 companies already engaged in conducting area assessments and vulnerability evaluations.

Kerala will host 30,471 polling stations, all under heightened surveillance.

The total electorate is approximately 2.71 crore, which includes 273 third-gender voters, while 53,984 are service voters.

Kelkar assured that strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct is being enforced, with surveillance teams, flying squads, and check-posts actively monitoring for any violations.

In light of the controversy surrounding the appearance of a BJP Kerala unit seal on official correspondence, Kelkar labeled it a “serious lapse.”

He clarified that a document mistakenly circulated by a political party representative bore the party’s seal.

“The mistake was promptly recognized, the erroneous communication was withdrawn, and a revised version was issued. Disciplinary measures, including suspension, have been initiated pending further inquiry,” he stated.

He urged the public to steer clear of misinformation and to depend on official updates.