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7 Kerala panchayat wards go to bypolls after exits
The Hindu··16 Sept
Seven of 38 local body wards voting on September 28 fell vacant after grama panchayat members resigned for jobs. Two left for work abroad, three took part-time government posts, one became an anganwadi supervisor, and one joined a minister staff. Two each were from Congress and the CPI(M), three from the IUML. Members cited an Rs 8,000 monthly honorarium.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Voters in the seven vacated grama panchayat wards will choose replacements in the September 28 bypolls.
- Other vacancies among the 38 wards stem from deaths, political resignations, job stress, or members becoming MLAs.
- Honorarium levels for local posts remain a live finance-commission topic for elected members.
What's Happening
- Raji Rajeev of Parakkadavu quit after an Italy visa opportunity that had been delayed since 2024.
- Sindu Sanjayan of Ranni quit a fourth term after securing Employment Exchange part-time work.
- Former Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar said low pay makes local office unattractive, including for youth.
What Members Are Paid
- A grama panchayat member gets Rs 8,000 a month plus Rs 200 per sitting, capped at Rs 1,000.
- The honorarium was Rs 3,000 as recently as 2022 before later revisions.
- The State Finance Commission has recommended raising honorariums for local body representatives.
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