Panchayat elections in Bengal will be held on July 2, 6 and 9. The West Bengal State Election Commission on Monday notified the schedule for three-phased Panchayat polls. It said polls would be conducted at more than 57,000 booths spread across 329 blocks.

The Commission, however, raised concerns over the State Government’s readiness to provide security personnel as per the Calcutta High Court order.

“The three-phased elections will be held on July 2, July 6 and July 9. Observers will be present at the polling areas from the date of phase-wise nomination,” Mira Pande, State Election Commissioner, said at a press conference on Monday evening.

Bengal has a three-tier Panchayat system with the Gram Panchayat being the lowest level, followed by Panchayat Samities and the Zilla Parishads.

Asked whether the State informed the Commission about providing adequate security personnel to conduct free and fair polls, Pande said, “The State Government has not informed us anything regarding availability of security personnel yet. We expect things will be done as per the Court order.”

“The Commission expects the State will provide detailed information regarding security arrangement at least by Tuesday (May 28),” Pande added.

According to SEC notification, notification for nominations will be put up across various districts on May 29, June 3 and June 5; for first, second and third phases respectively. The last dates for filing nominations for the rural polls in the phase-wise identified districts are June 5, June 10 and June 12.

PTI adds: Observers would be appointed for each of the 329 blocks going to the three-tier panchayat election to fill 58,865 Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad seats. An electorate of 4,44,57,536 would be eligible to vote in 57,233 polling stations.The model code of conduct would come into force all over the state except Darjeeling and urban areas from Monday.

ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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