323 file papers for 941 posts of sarpanch, 785 for 6,391 panch posts in district
As many as 323 candidates have filed their nomination papers for 941 posts of sarpanch and 785 nominations have been received for 6,391 posts of panch in the district so far, officials have said.
96K personnel deputed on poll duty
As many as 96,000 personnel have been deputed on election duty with 23 senior IAS and PCS officers appointed as general observers to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls at 19,110 polling booths across the state.
While Friday will be the last date for filing nominations between 11 and 3 pm, the polling, wherever required, will be held on October 15 from 8 am to 4 pm through the use of ballot boxes. The results will be declared after counting the votes on the same day at polling stations following the completion of the polling.
According to the official data available with The Tribune, 303 nominations for the posts of sarpanch were received on October 1 and the rest 20 were filed on September 30. As many as 746 candidates had filed their nominations for the posts of panch on October 1 and 39 had entered the poll fray on September 30.
The block-wise break-up of nominations filed for the posts of sarpanch revealed that 10 candidates were so far in the poll fray in Dehlon, 17 in Doraha, 26 Jagraon, 23 Khanna, 40 Ludhiana-1, 50 Ludhiana-2, 33 Machhiwara, 22 Maloud, 17 Pakhowal, 10 Raikot, 47 Samrala, 12 Sidhwan Bet and 16 in Sudhar block.
For the posts of panch, 22 nominations have been filed in the Dehlon block, 51 in Doraha, 61 Jagraon, 52 Khanna, 116 Ludhiana-1, 75 Ludhiana-2, 69 Machhiwara, 82 Maloud, 57 Pakhowal, 23 Raikot, 127 Samrala, seven Sidhwan Bet and 43 in the Sudhar block.
The block-wise distribution of posts showed that 61 sarpanch and 383 panch will be elected in Sidhwan Bet, 48 sarpanch and 398 panch in Sudhar 39 sarpanch and 305 panch in Pakhowal, 46 sarpanch and 342 panch in Dehlon, 62 sarpanch and 420 panch in Doraha, 81 sarpanch and 589 panch in Jagraon, 67 sarpanch and 451 panch in Khanna, 109 sarpanch and 775 panch in Ludhiana-1, 160 sarpanch and 1,020 panch in Ludhiana-2, 116 sarpanch and 660 panch in Machhiwara, 48 sarpanch and 326 panch in Maloud, 42 sarpanch and 312 panch in Raikot, and 62 sarpanch and 410 panch will be elected in the Samrala block.
According to the election schedule, the filing of nominations that had commenced from September 27 will end on October 4. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on October 5 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 7.
The expenditure limit for a candidate contesting for the post of sarpanch has been fixed at Rs 40,000 whereas those in the fray for the post of panch can spend a maximum of Rs 30,000.
As many as 96,000 personnel have been deputed on election duty with 23 senior IAS and PCS officers appointed as general observers to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls at 19,110 polling booths across the state.
The panchayat polls were announced after the Punjab Assembly had last month passed the Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, for holding elections to elect sarpanches and panches without symbols of political parties. It has brought an end to the direct contest between recognised political parties.
