Notification for Panchayat polls in two days

State Election Commissioner P Ramakanth Reddy on Monday said that the notification for the conduct of Gram Panchayat elections will be issued in two or three days.

"We received the gazette issued with regard to reservation provided to BC, SC and ST communities in the local bodies from the Panchayat Raj department this morning. Based on the government orders, the State Election Commission is examining the data provided in the order to make necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of poll ", he said. The total number of gram panchayats in the state is � 21,590 of which 50 per cent were reserved for women. The total number of polling stations will be 2.20 lakh across the state. Since it required huge number of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Commission decided to use ballot papers in the election.

It is mandatory that every contestant should submit declaration regarding SC, ST and BC status, assets, liabilities, educational qualification, criminal antecedents and election expenditure accounts during filing nominations, Reddy told The Hans India.

Once the notification issued, District Collectors will notify the conduct of elections in every panchayat. The Commission has put 29 days time to complete the election process which starts from filing of nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal of nominations, conduct of election , vote counting and declare the results from the date of issuing the notification. Collectors have also been asked to send the details regarding stay orders by courts on the conduct of election on different reasons in some panchayats to the Commission.

The model code of conduct will come into force immediately after the notification is issued. Reddy said the code of conduct will apply to all poll bound panchyats. Municipalities and towns will be exempted from the code. The proposal to increase the deposit money by the contestant is under active consideration. The deposit money will be increased to Rs 2,000 from Rs 200 for Sarpanch posts for general candidates, for SC and ST communities, it will be increased to Rs 1,000 from the present Rs 100. For ward member posts , general candidates from general category should deposit Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 for SC and ST candidates.

Voters, who have completed 18 years of age as on January 1, 2013 are eligible to exercise their franchise. As the Election Commission had already taken up the enrollment of voters, he appealed to all eligible to register their names in voters list. To check liquor and money flow during the election time, the Commission will take stringent steps with the help of police and Excise and Prohibition departments shortly. The sale of liquor in towns located close to panchayats will be also banned by seeking the permission of Excise Department.