Kochi, Oct. 28 -- Elections to the three-tier rural and urban local bodies in Kerala, scheduled earlier for November or December this year, now face an uncertain fate after the Election Commission of India (ECI) included the state as part of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A total of 9 states and 3 UTs were included, even as the printing of forms and the training for BLOs is set to begin today (Tuesday). According to officials in the know, Kerala's chief electoral officer (CEO) Rathan U Kelkar purportedly recommended to the ECI earlier that the SIR be deferred till after the local body elections to avoid staff shortages.

According to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, "Local bod...