The intelligence warning called for strict vigilance to ensure a peaceful and fair local body election in Kannur, a district known for its politically charged contests.
Published Nov 12, 2025 | 4:44 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 12, 2025 | 4:44 PM
Politically volatile Kannur has often witnessed violent clashes. Pictured, crude explosives seized in February 2022.
Synopsis: Elections to 1,199 local bodies, except Mattannur, will be held on 9 December and 11 December. The results will be declared on 13 December. Mattannur’s term has not ended. Seen as a semi-final before the crucial Assembly elections in 2026, the LSG polls will be critical for all political fronts in Kerala.
The Intelligence Wing of the Kerala Police has identified 455 polling booths in the Kannur district as “sensitive” ahead of the two-phased local body elections, warning of possible law-and-order problems.
The report said “highly sensitive” booths will be barricaded and secured with paramilitary forces, while additional police will be deployed to prevent clashes and bogus voting.
As the elections will be held in two phases across the state, forces from other districts will be brought in to strengthen security.
The warning highlighted concerns over booths with a record of malpractice, including vote rigging and voter intimidation.
Extra surveillance will be placed on locations where an unusually high number of votes go to a single candidate.
Sensitive booths are mainly within Kannur, Vadakara, and Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituencies, covering assembly segments such as Thalassery, Koothuparamba, Payyanur, Taliparamba, Irikkur, and Peravoor.
Around 30 booths facing Maoist threats will receive special monitoring, with CCTV and webcams used to record the polling process.
Technical staff and Akshaya entrepreneurs will assist in the monitoring, and a trial run of security measures will be held before the election.
The intelligence warning called for strict vigilance to ensure a peaceful and fair local body election in Kannur, a district known for its politically charged contests.
Elections to 1,199 local bodies, except Mattannur, will be held on 9 December and 11 December. The results will be declared on `13 December. Mattannur’s term has not ended.
Seen as a semi-final before the crucial Assembly elections in 2026, the LSG polls will be critical for all political fronts in Kerala.
