Bengal pre-poll violence: Two more killed in last 9 hrs, toll touches 17
Two more poll-related deaths over the July 8 panchayat elections in West Bengal were reported in two districts in the past nine hours taking the toll to 17.
A day after releasing the schedule for election to urban local bodies, the state election commission on Sunday declared elections for panchayats that will be held in nine phases from 17 November to 11 December.
Chief electoral officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra announced that elections for 316 Blocks in 4490 panchayats comprising of 35096 Panch Constituencies will be held in 9 phases.
He said the last panchayat elections in the State were held in 2011 after a gap of 10 years. The term of the 2011 panchayats got over in July 2016.
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The CEO said today’s announcement of the poll schedule brings in force the Model Code of Conduct with immediate effect and the same shall apply in all panchayat constituencies headed for polls as well as candidates, the political parties and the Government.
He said that in view of the recent amendments making direct election to Sarpanch, the electors shall cast their votes for panchayat as well as Sarpanch for which two separate colours of ballot papers will be used.
He said that suitable number of polling stations have been notified for each panchayat constituency of a Panchayat Halqa (network) as determined by the District Panchayat Election Officer.
He said voter slips will be distributed in Urdu and English language to make the voters aware about their respective polling stations. “The voter identity cards will be compulsory for casting votes,” he said.
He said a scheme has been devised to enable migrant Kashmiri Pandits to vote in panchayat elections through postal ballot.
Kabra said the last date for filing nominations for the nine phases will be 30 October, 2, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19th and 22 November respectively.
Scrutiny of nominations will be 31 October, 3, 6, 9, 12, 14, 17, 20 and 24 November, respectively, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be 2, 5, 8, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22 and26 November.
The polling will be held on 17, 20, 24, 27 and 29 November and 1, 4, 8 and 11 December. He said the counting of votes will be taken up on the same day unless notified otherwise followed by announcement of results. He said the process of election will be completed on 17 December.
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