The Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held in three phases in January.

“The polling would be held in three phases. The polling in first phase shall be held on January 17, second phase on January 19 and third phase on January 21 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, said an official spokesman.

The nomination papers may be filed from 11 am to 3 pm from December 31 to January 2. The scrutiny will be held on January 4 and the nominations may be withdrawn from 10 am to 3 pm on January 6, he said.

Nomination papers for the office bearers of gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zila parishad shall be filled at designated places and before the officers appointed by the district election officers (panchayat)-cum-deputy commissioner for the purpose.

The spokesman said that the counting of vote for the ward members, up-pradhan and pradhan of gram panchayat will be taken up immediately after the close of the poll at the Gram Panchayats Headquarters. The counting of votes for the members of Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad would be taken up on January 22 at respective Block Headquarters. The counting for a ward member once started shall continue until it is completed, he said.

He said that the results of election of members, up-pradhan and pradhan of gram panchayat shall be declared immediately after the counting is over.

The election process will be completed by January 23, he said. The election programme shall not apply to pradhans of all gram panchayats of district Shimla in all development blocks of district Shimla and pradhans of all gram panchayat development block dharampur in district Mandi in view of stay orders granted by the  High Court of Himachal Pradesh, he added.

Earlier on December 17, the State Election Commissioner had said that municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in the state would be held on January 10.