The State Election Commission (SEC) will announce notification for the three-tier panchayat polls on Monday. The respective district administrations will then notify for nominations as per the schedule of the polls – July 2, July 6 and July 9.

“We will issue the notification on Monday (May 27) and different district administrations will file their notifications on May 29, June 3 and June 5 for first, second and third phases respectively,” Tapas Ray, Secretary, SEC, told Business Line .

According to him, the last dates for filing nominations for the rural polls in the phase-wise identified districts are June 5, June 10 and June 12.

SEC met with the State Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee and other administrative officials to discuss requirements for security personnel and law and order situations to conduct peaceful polls. “We have told the State Government our strategies and requirement for the security personnel,” Ray said.

PTI adds: The SEC had held a series of meetings with the law enforcing authorities and political parties in the last few days.

State Election Commissioner Mira Pande had on Wednesday discussed with Governor M. K. Narayanan the issues of requirement of security forces and arrangement for the poll.

“All aspects have been discussed...He wanted to know about the security position and I told him what we have said to the State Government in this regard,” Pandey had told reporters after meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan.

The SEC had earlier agreed to the formula proposed by the State Government for district-wise holding of the rural election in three phases.

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court had on May 14 rejected the SEC order for 800 companies of central forces to man the panchayat polls and directed that the election be held in three phases and the process be completed by July 15.

ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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