As many as 25,404 candidates will be contesting elections on 9,376 seats during the second phase of general elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions scheduled to be held on January 17 in Haryana.
Earlier, out of total 50,239 nominations filed for contesting elections to 23,095 posts, 47,427 were found correct after the cancellation of 2812 nominations. After the withdrawal of nominations by 8,992 candidates and election of 13,031 candidates unopposed, a total of 25,404 candidates are left in the fray for 9376 posts including 15,880 males and 9,524 female.
Haryana State Election Commissioner Rajeev Sharma on Monday said that after the unanimous election of 12903 panches, 86 sarpanches, some candidates of 42 panchayat samitis and after vacant posts of 685 post of panches, one of panchayat samiti and two of sarpanches due to various reasons, election for the second phase is being conducted for 141 wards of Zila Parishads, 956 wards out of 999 wards of panchayat samitis, 1882 posts of Sarpanches out of 1970 and 6,538 posts out of 20,126 post of panches.
Sharma said that as many as 36,749 nominations have been received so far for third phase of PRIs elections scheduled for January 24 of which 3488 nominations including 2222 males and 1266 females are received for member panchayat samiti. Similarly, 9928 nomination including 6169 of males and 3759 of females has received for the post of Sarpanches whereas 23333 candidates have applied for panches including 13851 males and 9482 females.
He said that election process for the first phase was held peacefully except isolated incidents in some places on January 10. He said that people of the state have set an example by electing 15,636 panches, 93 sarpanches, and 46 members of panchayat samitis unanimously in the first phase of PRIs elections.