In an inclusive move, the state will include candidate names in Tamil and Kannada, alongside Malayalam, on ballot papers and ballot labels in local body constituencies with linguistic minority populations. The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued the directive ahead of the upcoming local body polls.

Wards with Tamil-speaking minority voters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad districts will feature candidate names in both Malayalam and Tamil. In Kasaragod district, where Kannada-speaking minorities reside, the ballot materials will include names in Kannada as well.

In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Valiyasala and Kamaleswaram wards will carry information in Tamil, while 18 wards in Kasaragod Municipality will feature Kannada.

Tamil will also appear on ballot papers and labels in five wards each of the Kulathupuzha and Aryankavu grama panchayats in Kollam; the Gavi ward of Seethathode grama panchayat and two wards of Malayalapuzha grama panchayat in Pathanamthitta; 229 wards across 22 grama panchayats in Idukki; 93 wards across six grama panchayats in Palakkad; and the Kaithakkolli ward of Noolpuzha grama panchayat in Wayanad.

In Kasaragod, Kannada will be included in ballot materials in 283 wards across 18 grama panchayats. The same language provisions will apply to ballot papers and labels for the corresponding block panchayat and district panchayat wards that cover these grama panchayat segments.

Over 2.5 lakh personnel deployed for poll duties
The SEC has deployed 2,56,934 officials for various duties related to local body elections. The state has appointed 14 district election officers and 28 assistant district election officers.

In addition, 1,249 returning officers, 1,321 assistant returning officers, and 1,034 electoral registration officers will oversee the conduct of the polls. More than 2.5 lakh personnel will handle polling, distribution of voting materials and counting. For security, 70,000 police personnel will be deployed.

The commission has also appointed 14 general observers and 70 expenditure observers. The election machinery includes 2,300 sectoral officers, 184 anti-defacement squads, 70 district-level trainers and 650 block-level trainers.