By-elections under the three tier Panchayatiraj Act will be held for the 366 vacant posts of Janpad Panchayat members, sarpanchs and panchs in the districts of Bilaspur and Sarguja revenue divisions of Chhattisgarh on May 24.
The State election commission has issued necessary guidelines in this respect to the collectors and district election officers (local election) concerned.
According to the programmes scheduled by the State election commission, election for 6 sarpanchs and 26 panchs in Bilaspur district; 1 Janpad panchayat member, 6 sarpanchs and 7 panch in Mungeli district; two janpad panchayat members, 3 sarpanchs and 40 panchs in Janjgir-Champa district and two sarpanchs and 19 panchs in Korba district of Bilaspur revenue division would be held.
Similarly, election for 3 sarpanchs and 20 panchs in Surajpur district; two sarpanchs and three panchs in Balrampur-Ramanujganj district; two janpad panchayat members, 4 sarpanchs and 29 panchs in Sarguja district; one janpad panchayat member, one sarpanch and 8 panchs in Korea (Baikuntpur) district; one janpad panchayat member, 15 sarpanchs and 141 panchs in Raigarh district and one janpad panchayat member, 5 sarpanchs and 18 panch posts in Jashpur district of Sarguja revenue divisions would be held.
According to the information received from the state election commission, the information about the election, nomination, reservation of seats and list of polling booths has been published on May 3. The last date for filing nomination papers would be on May 10 up to 3 pm. Scrutiny of the nominations papers would be held on May 11. The withdrawal of names by the candidates, allotment of election symbols to the candidates and the publication of the list of candidates would be held on May 13.
According to the received information, if necessary, polling would be held on May 24 from 7 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. After polling counting of votes would be held at the polling boots. If need be, counting of votes would be held at tehsil/development block headquarters on May 25 up to 3 pm.
The results of the election would be declared on May 26 at 9 am at development block headquarters.