As many as 731 polling stations in Kozhikode district have been identified as sensitive and the authorities will deploy special forces at these places during the elections. Explaining the district’s preparedness for the second phase of local body elections on December 11, District Collector and Election Officer Snehil Kumar Singh said that 117 such booths are in Kozhikode city while the rest fall under Kozhikode rural. Webcast facilities will be available in 166 cabins, he added.
The district has 26,82,682 voters, of which 14,16,275 are female, 12,66,375 are male and 32 are transgender. An electronic system will be introduced to monitor voter turnout and a live broadcast from the polling stations will be available. Voting will begin at 7:00 a.m., preceded by a mock poll at 6:00 a.m. The polls will close at 6:00 p.m., but voters present in the polling station will be able to cast their vote until then.
A total of 3,097 polling stations are available — 2,411 in grama panchayats, 290 in municipalities and 396 in corporation limits. Around 16,000 postal ballots have been issued in the district and voters can cast them before the returning officers of the respective local bodies. Officials secured 1,437 vehicles to support the polling process.
The district has 4,283 polling units and 11,020 polling units, of which 3,940 polling units and 10,060 polling units have already been distributed. Twenty centers will be used for the distribution and collection of voting machines, the counting will begin on December 13 at 8 a.m. in these centers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K. Pavithran and Additional Superintendent of Police (Kozhikode Rural) AP Chandran attended the press meet. Around 3,000 security personnel including 2,100 policemen, home guards, special constables and rapid response forces have been deployed across the district to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
Thilakkam
The Collector said the district has so far collected ₹5 crore for violating the green protocol. There are five special units in the district to check defacement and the authorities have received 135 complaints in this regard.
Mr Singh said he is yet to receive a proper explanation from the Kozhikode Corporation Secretary proving that the Corporation’s progress report titled ‘Thilakkam’ was published and circulated to councilors before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect. “We are examining all the evidence received so far and verifying its authenticity. The State Election Commission will take the final call,” he said. The UDF and the BJP complained to the Collector that the LDF had violated the MCC by distributing copies of the progress report to voters during the campaign.
Published – 08 Dec 2025 20:18 IST
