KANNUR: Under tight security, the fifth election to the Mattannur Municipality will be held on Tuesday from 7 am till 5 pm. As many as 36,313 voters will exercise their franchise in the election to 35 wards. Considered as a strong citadel of the CPM, all the four previous elections were won by the LDF. The present municipal chairman Bhaskaran Master is the husband of Health Minister K K Shailaja. The voting machines for the polling were distributed by returning officer Suneel Pamidi at Mattannur Higher Secondary School on Monday.
A total of 112 candidates are in the fray this time. The largest number of electors are in Kayani ward (1,265 voters) and lowest is Perincheri (777 voters). The most number of candidates are in Mattannur ward (5) and least in Beram (2). Over 250 police personnel in four battalions are in charge of the security. Out of the 35 booths, 32 are considered sensitive. All polling booths have a video recording facility. In each booth a sub inspector, two civil police and a woman police have been assigned for security duties. Wheelchairs have been arranged for those with health issues. Counting will be held at Mattannur Higher Secondary School on Thursday.
