Kochi: The state government on Monday filed an interim application before the Kerala High Court seeking extension of one month to hold the elections so that the new committees would take charge on December 1. The State sought permission to conduct the elections in a single phase.
Secretary of local self-government Mohammed Hanish filed the application stating that a joint meeting was convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on August 24 at Thiruvananthapuram where ministers, secretaries and the state election commission were present.
At the meeting it was noticed that the entire election process could be completed only by November 30 and the new committees could take charge by December 1, 2015, his application said.
According to him, the election process would start on October 16, well within the tenure of the existing committees. A further period of 46 days is required by the Election Commission for completing the election process which would be over by November 30, 2015.
The state further submitted that a similar situation arose in 2010 and the high court approved the decision of the government and the Election Commission to conduct the election and to install the newly elected councils by an extended period of one month in order to avoid a two phase election. The high court will consider the application on Tuesday.
