Chhattisgarh State Election Commissioner Ram Singh Thakur said all the preparations for three-tier panchayat elections have been completed and the first phase of the polling will be held on January 28 in 4847 Gram Panchayats covering 57 blocks of the state.
The polling is scheduled for 42,404 posts for which 61.74 lakh electors will use their voting rights.
He further said out of total voters, 30,85,320 are men and 30,88,835 are women electors. Number of third gender voters is 69. All the arrangements have been made for holding peaceful election in the first phase and other phases also.
Making an appeal, Commissioner Singh said more and more electors should reach the polling booths to use their voting rights. “It would further strengthen the democracy. They should come to booth without fear,” he said.
Commisioner intimated that in the first phase, a total of 12,572 polling centres have been made for which 80,000 polling personnel and 976 sectors officers have been deputed. All the polling teams have been sent to their respective polling stations with polling materials.
Further elaborating, he said the polling will be held for 36,473 posts of ward panch, 4620 Sarpanch, 1144 Janpad Panchayat member and 167 posts of Zila Panchayat. A total of 1,16,766 candidates are in the fray. Of them for ward panch 90,838 candidates, for sarpanch 20,145 candidates, for janpad panchayat member 4986 candidates and for Zila Panchayat member 807 candidates are in contest.
Commissioner Ram Singh Thakur said in the first phase, already candidates in 29,919 posts of panch, 216 posts of Sarpanch and 46 posts of Janpad Panchayat have been elected unopposed.