Campaigning ends for Himachal panchayati raj elections

Kullu: Campaigning for the first phase of the panchayati raj elections in Himachal Pradesh drew to a close at 3pm on Sunday, ahead of polling in 1,293 gram panchayats on May 26.In a statement, state election commission secretary Surjeet Singh Rathore said candidates would now be permitted to do only door-to-door campaigning.The polling will be conducted in three phases on May 26, 28 and 30 through ballot papers from 7am to 3pm for 31,182 posts across the state, including 3,754 pradhans, 3,754 up-pradhans, 21,654 gram panchayat members, 1,769 panchayat samiti members and 251 zila parishad members.A total of 10,854 candidates have already been elected unopposed, said the statement.The commission has set up 21,678 polling stations, out of which 1,585 are highly sensitive booths and 3,554 sensitive booths. Around 8,198 polling parties have been deployed for the three-phase elections, added the statement.