Pondy local body polls announced

Pondicherry, May 22 (UNI) The much-awaited local body elections in the union territory will be held in three phases on June 24, 27 and July one, State Election Commissioner R Narayana announced here today.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Narayana said based on the directions of Madras High Court, the State Election Commission had announced the polling dates to elect five chairpersons and 122 councillors in all the five municipalities, besides ten council members from ten commune panchayats, 89 village panchayat presidents and 815 panchayat ward members.

The filing of nominations for the first phase of elections will begin on June three and will end on June 10. The scrutiny will take place on June 12.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 14.

Mr Narayana said elections to Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam Municipalities and Kottucherry, Nedumgadu, Neravy, T R Patinam and Thirunallar commune panchayats will be held during the first phase.

Elections to the Pondicherry and Ozhukarai municipalities and Villianur commune panchayats will come under the second phase on June 27.

Nominations for the second phase will start on June seven and end on June 14. The scrutiny will take place on June 15. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 17.

Ariyankuppam, Bahour, Mannadipet and Nettapakkam CommunePanchayats go to polls in the third and final phase on July one. Nomination for the final phase commences from June ten. The last date for filing nominations is June 17. Scrutiny falls on June 19.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 21. The model code of conduct comes into force from today, Mr Narayana announced.

Counting of the votes will take place on July three, Mr Narayana said. The State Election Commission had already appointed 15 returning and 74 assistant returning officers.

There will be 1,190 polling stations all over the union territory and about 6,600 polling personnel deployed. The number of voters stand at 6,49,884 lakh he said.

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