The Kerala State Election Commission (SEC) has set the oath-taking ceremonies for newly elected members and councillors of local bodies on December 21. The most senior elected member will take the oath first, administered by government-nominated officials. For Corporations and District Panchayats, the District Collectors will act as the officials. Returning Officers will act in grama and block panchayats, while special Returning Officers will do so for Municipalities. After this, the senior member will administer the oath to others. Ceremonies for three-tier panchayats and municipal councils start at 10 a.m., and Corporations at 11:30 a.m. the same day. The first meeting post-ceremony will be led by the most senior member. The Secretary will explain the election of the president, vice president, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, or Chairperson as applicable. All candidates from the 2025 local body elections must submit their election expenditure to the SEC by January 12, 2026. This must be done online via the election expenditure module on www.sec.kerala.gov.in. The law requires these reports within 30 days of election results. Failure to submit or giving false information may disqualify candidates from elections for five years, the SEC warned.