The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued the guidelines for the oath-taking of newly-elected members and councillors of local bodies, with the ceremonies being scheduled for December 21.
The most senior among the elected representatives must take the oath or affirmation first before an official nominated by the government. In the case of Corporations and District Panchayats, the District Collectors are the nominated officers. The Returning Officers concerned are the nominated officers in the grama and block panchayats and specially-assigned Returning Officers in the case of Municipalities.
Thereafter, the most senior member will administer the oath or affirmation to the rest of the members.
In the three-tier panchayats and the municipal councils, the ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. on December 21. The Corporations will host them at 11.30 a.m. on the same day.
After the ceremony, the firest meeting of the elected members will be chaired by the most senior member. The Secretary of the local body will read out the instructions regarding the election of the president and vice president – or Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson as the case maybe – at this meeting.
All candidates who contested in the 2025 local body elections have been directed to submit their election expenditure to the SEC before January 12. The details are to be filed online by logging in on the election expenditure module on the SEC website www.sec.kerala.gov.in. Election rules require candidates to file their expenditures within 30 days of the announcement of the results, SEC said. Failure to do so can lead to disqualification from contesting the elections or continuing as an elected member for a period of five years. Submitting misleading information or expenditure in excess of the permitted amount also can lead to disqualification, the Commission said.
Published – December 15, 2025 09:07 pm IST
