Thiruvananthapuram, June 22 (IANS): The polls to the local bodies in Kerala will take place in October, a top election commission official said on Monday.

State Election Commissioner K. Sasidharan Nair told reporters here that at this point of time the exact date of polls could not be stated but the elections would be held in October.

"The cut-off date for the polls is October because the newly-elected local bodies will have to positively assume office on November 1, 2015. Hence, for that to happen, the polls have to be held in October," said Nair.

Polls are scheduled to be held for 21,682 seats in the three-tier local body structure in the state and 50 percent of the seats are reserved for women candidates.

Ahead of the polls, the delimitation of wards will also take place as new wards have been created and those attaining 18 years of age on January 1 are eligible to vote, provided their names exist in the electoral list.

In the 2010 local body elections, the Congress-led United Democratic Front won more than 50 percent of the total seats and all eyes are on if they will be able to retain those seats.