Panchayat election schedule fixed for October 7

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 17

The state election commission has today announced that the 5th general panchayat election 2017 of the valley districts will be held on October 7.

The announcement was made by state election commissioner, Th. Kamini Kumar Singh, at the election office within the office complex of deputy commissioner (DC), Imphal West.

While the public notification of the election is to be issued on August 18, the election code of conduct will come into effect with the announcement of the election.

The election commissioner divulged that the term for the 4th panchayat body will expire on October 23.

Altogether 7,16,830 voters including 3,48,139 male and 3,68,691 female voters will exercise their franchise to elect 60 zilla parishad, 161 pradhans and 1,513 ward members. Voting will begin from 8 am and conclude at 4pm.

Kamini Kumar Singh, informed that election will be held at 1,521 polling stations for which a total of 9,126 polling personnel are required including 912 in reserved.

The last date for filing of nomination papers has been scheduled on August 26 followed by scrutiny on August 26 and withdrawal of nomination papers on August 29.

While the counting has been fixed on October 11, the entire process of election is to be completed by October 16.

The 6 deputy commissioners (DCs) of the respective districts will be the district election officers, 14 returning officers and general observers will look into the smooth functioning of the election process.

To ensure free and fair conduct of the election, the commission has asked the concerned DCs to appoint a nodal officer from the police department and for this a joint meeting of the DCs, SPs and the state election commission officials will be arrange shortly, said the state election commissioner.

Ballot papers will be used as per the regulation of the Election Commission as the commission was unable to arrange electronic voting machines.