Punjab panchayat polls on July 3

As many as 13,080 panchayats in Punjab will go to polls on July 3. The state election commission announced this here on Thursday. The government in its delimitation exercise has created 81,412 wards in the state.

As many as 13,080 panchayats in Punjab will go to polls on July 3. The state election commission announced this here on Thursday.

The government in its delimitation exercise has created 81,412 wards in the state.

The election commission has made arrangements for keeping two ballot boxes at every polling booth, one for the election of the sarpanch and the other for the panch.

The government has also made an amendment in the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act to hold direct
elections to sarpanches this time.

The counting of votes will take place on the same day. Once the polling ends at 19,000 booths at 5pm, the staff on election duty will start counting the votes on July 3.

Giving details, state election commissioner SS Brar said the nominations would take place from June 19 to 22. The scrutiny of the nominations would take place on June 24. He said the candidates could withdraw their nominations on June 25.

Brar said all necessary arrangements had been made. The code of conduct will come into effect on June 19 and will be in place till July 4.