The local body election in Panmana grama panchayat near Chavara in Kollam is likely to be cancelled following the death of one of its candidates.

The deceased has been identified as LDF candidate Raju (Raska).

Section 124 of the Kerala Municipality Act requires that the election be cancelled and procedures started afresh if a candidate whose nomination has cleared scrutiny and who has not withdrawn his candidature dies and a report of his death is received before the publication of the list of contesting candidates.

However, the State Election Commission is yet to release an official notification.

If cancelled, this will be the fourth ward where elections stand cancelled following the death of candidates. Earlier, polls in Kannur's Thillankeri division was cancelled following the death of Georgekutty Irumbukuzhi, a United Democratic Front Kerala Congress (Joseph) candidate.

The polling in the 37th ward of Kalamassery municipality in Ernakulam district and the 47th ward of Thrissur Corporation were also cancelled following the death of Thellayil J Mathew and MK Mukundan.

Kerala is set to conduct a three-phase polling to elect people's representatives for more than 1,000 three-tier local self-government bodies in December.

The voting dates are December 8, 10 and 14.

In the first phase, on December 8, voting would be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki districts. 

In the second phase, on December 10, it is the turn of Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad districts.

In the last phase, on December 14, voting has been scheduled for northern districts Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. 

Votes can be cast from 7am to 6pm.

On account of the coronavirus pandemic, voters are advised to take all necessary precautions. Masks and the regular use of sanitizers are mandatory at the voting centres.

The candidates would know their fate at the hustings on December 16.