Punjab's Zila parishads and panchayat samiti election on Sep 19

The State Election Commission today announced polls to Zila Parishad and panchayat samitis in Punjab on September 19.

With the announcement, the model code of conduct has come into force in the state.

Addressing the media here, State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu said filing of nominations for 22 Zila Parishad and 150 panchayat samitis, respectively, will commence from September 4. The last date will be September 7, he added.

Nominations will be scrutinized on September 10, while the date for withdrawal is September 11, he said, adding that election symbols will be allotted on September 11.

"The voting will be held on September 19 and the counting will take place on September 22," Sandhu said. The voting will be held from 8 am to 4 pm, he added.

A total of 354 people will be elected to Zila Parishad, while 2,900 to panchayat samitis, Sandhu said.

He said there will be 50 percent reservation for women each in Zila Parishad and panchayat samitis.

There are 1,27,87,395 registered voters, comprising 60,99,053 females and 97 third genders, in the state as on January 1, 2018. An option of NOTA will also be provided to the voters, Sandhu said.

He said no EVM would be used and the polling will be conducted only through the ballot paper system.

A total of 62,000 ballot boxes have been arranged for the polling, he said.

When asked about electronic voting machines not being used in the polls, Sandhu said it has been a usual practice of conducting Zila Parishad and panchayat samitis elections through the ballot paper only.

During the last polling also, which took place in May 2013, ballot papers were used, he said.

"There could be a logistic problem if EVMs are to be used," he added.

Sandhu said the expenditure limit for a candidate contesting Zila Parishad polls has been hiked to Rs 1.90 lakh from 1.56 lakh earlier and for panchayat samitis from Rs 65,000 to Rs 80,000 per candidate.

A total of 17,268 polling booths will be set up and 86,340 personnel will be put on the election duty. Thirty-five observers will be appointed to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls, he said.

To a question about panchayat polls, Sandhu said the state government was yet to notify the reservation pertaining to panchayats.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)