Asom panchayat elections in November, hints SEC

Guwahati, May 7 (UNI) The Asom State Election Commission(SEC) today hinted that the panchayat polls could be held in November.

Addressing a press conference here, State Election Commissioner Chandrakanta Sarma said as the process of delimitation of constituencies has been completed, the Commission would now go ahead with the preparations for the panchayat elections.

The SEC had submitted a tentative budget of Rs 57.30 crore to the government required for conducting the elections.

The summary revision of electoral rolls starts on May 18 and will continue till June 5, while the electoral roll draft will be published on June 6, Mr Sarma informed.

The rolls of the last Assembly elections will be taken as the basis during the preparation of the panchayat electoral rolls.

From June 7 to 18 the Commission will accept claims, which will be disposed of before July 3. The final electoral rolls will be published on July 6.

Citing possible floods and festivities in the months of August, September and October, the state election commissioner hinted at a November date for the elections.

Mr Sarma also said the polls would be held in two or three phases.

There are altogether 2,153 gaon panchayats, 183 anchalik panchayats and 21 zila parishads.

He also said the Commission was considering a law making it mandatory for the panchayat poll candidates to submit their election expenditures within a month's time from polling.

UNI