The second phase of poll to Panchayati Raj Institutions in Himachal Pradesh will begin in the New Year on January 1. In the first round, voting will be held for election of PRI representatives of 732 panchayats.
State Election Commi-ssioner, TG Negi on Thursday said that all arrangements had been made for the poll to PRI’s and 5371 polling parties had reached at the polling stations.
As many as 21,484 employees and around 11,000 security personnel had been deployed for smooth and successful conduct of these polls.
Negi said the polling would be held between 7 AM and 3 PM and counting will be held soon after the polling is over and the results of gram panchayat elections would also be declared on the same day. Whereas the counting of votes for Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishad would be held on January 7 from 8.30 am onwards at development block headquarters.
The State Election Commissioner has appealed all the voters to cast their votes to strengthen the grass-root democracy.
In first phase, the panchayat poll were conducted in some tribal areas of lahaul & Spiti and Chamba districts.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Government has declared January 1, 3, 5, 10 and 12 January, 2016 as public holidays in Himachal Pradesh on account of general election for Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipal Committees on the respective dates.
A spokesperson of the Himachal Government said here that all government offices, boards, corporations, educational institutions and industrial establishments under Industrial Disputes Act and shops will remain closed on the dates in the respective areas. It will be a paid holiday to the daily waged employees and also within the meaning of Section 25 of Negotiable Instrument Act 1881.
However, special casual leave may be given to those employees who are working in different places in the state but have a right to vote in these Panchayati Raj Institutions on the production of certificate from the concerned Presiding Officer that the employee has actually cast his/her vote.