JUDGMENT

[ WP(C).Nos.26515/20, 27061/2020, 27072/2020,27096/2020, 27098/2020, 27102/2020,27104/2020,27105/2020,27108/2020,27133/2020, 27135/2020, 27149/2020, 27157/2020, 27159/2020, 27161/2020,27169/2020, 27171/2020, 27179/2020, 27183/2020, 27203/2020, 27211/2020, 27216/2020,27218/2020,27222/2020, 27223/2020, 27224/2020& 27227/2020]

These writ petitions have been filed by Candidates/election agents raising apprehensions of threats and violence by the rival party workers on the days leading to the election to the Local Self Government Institutions in the State of Kerala. In these Writ Petitions filed on the eleventh hour, the petitioners bemoan that they are facing grave threats to life on their person. They assert that they would not be permitted to canvas for votes due to the incessant threats raised against them. In all these cases, the petitioners assert that their opponents, who owe allegiance to the party in power, would get support from the executive machinery of the State and neither them nor their party workers will be permitted to approach the voters and convince them in a free manner. They contend that there would be violence on polling day and there is a reasonable possibi