3-phase PRI polls in HP from May 26

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission on Tuesday announced that elections to the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) would be held from May 26 to 30.Voting for 31,182 posts across gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads will be held in three phases on May 26, 28 and 30, the poll body stated.Counting for 3,754 gram panchayats will take place immediately after the polling, while votes for panchayat samitis and zila parishads will be counted on May 31.With the announcement of elections on Tuesday, the model code of conduct also came into force. Himachal Pradesh election commissioner, Anil Kumar Khachi, said the election schedule would not apply to four gram panchayats in Kullu district — Karjan and Soyel in the Naggar block, and Jaban and Namhog in the Anni block — as their tenures end in Feb 2027. However, elections for the posts of panchayat samiti and zila parishad members in these areas will proceed as scheduled.Himachal Pradesh has a total of 50.79 lakh registered voters – 25.67 lakh men, 25.11 lakh women and 29 other voters. As many as 52,349 voters aged 18 will cast their vote for the first time.Bhatavali gram panchayat in the Paonta Sahib block of Sirmaur district has the highest number of 4,623 voters, while Sumra in the Pooh block of Kinnaur district has the lowest 178 electors.The state election commission has set up 21,678 polling stations across the state and directed officials to establish auxiliary booths where voter turnout is expected to be high.Separate polling arrangements for men and women may also be made. The highest polling station, at an altitude of 4,587 metres, has been set up at Komik in Lahaul and Spiti district, said Anil Kumar.Candidates can file their nomination papers on May 7, 8 and 12. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on May 12, and candidates can withdraw their nominations on May 14 and 15, he added.Polling will be conducted through ballot papers, said the state election commissioner, adding that 60 lakh ballot papers printed in different colours would be used for different posts.Candidates must maintain election expenditure records, with a maximum limit of Rs 1 lakh for zila parishad members. Videography of vote counting will be conducted, and directions have been issued for webcasting arrangements at sensitive centres, said Anil Kumar.He further said the sale of liquor would be prohibited 48 hours ahead of the polling, on the day of voting, and on the counting day.The state election commission has urged voters to participate actively in these elections and vote without fear.MSID:: 130579317 413 |