Election date to be notified on September 24

Gangtok, Sep 18 (UNI) Expressing its commitment to form a new Panchayat body by first week of November, the Sikkim State Election Commission today announced that the notification for Panchayat elections would be issued on September 24.

An official release stated that the poll, if necessary, will be held on October 26.

"The term of the existing Zilla Panchayats and Gram Panchayats will expire on November, 2007. Therefore, the new bodies of Panchayats at different levels will be constituted before this date," the Commission said in a press statement.

The Commission stated that all works related to preparation and final publication of the Panchayat Electoral Rolls and reorganisation of Gram Panchayat wards and territorial constituencies had been completed adding that it had already apprised all political parties of the preparedness of the elections.

The Commission emphasised that the list of new members must be placed by the first week of November.

Once the election is notified on September 24, the candidates can file their nominations from the same date. Model code of conduct will be applicable from the day announcing the election till the completion of election process, the Commission said.

All the registered parties in the state including the ruling Sikkim Democratic Party are expected to contest the elections as many were already strated campaigning.

UNI