HimVani
Shimla (Dec 18): Highest-ever nominations have been received for the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections this time in Himachal Pradesh with as many as 90,471 candidates filing their nominations, state election department official said here today.
In the three-tire polling, there are 27,440 posts at atake in 3,195 panchayats that will go to polling in three phases on December 28 and 30 , 2010 and on Jan 1, 2011. During last PRI polls, about 83, 864 candidates had filled their nominations. The increase in number of nominations is being attributed to direct elections of up-pradahan (vice-pPresident) in panchayats and no reservation on this post.
Interestingly, the state government might have vested extra power in the hands panchayat pradhans, but lesser nomber of people have shown their eagerness to contest for the top post in panchayats. As many as 16,714 candidates have applied for the pradhan’s post in 3,195 panchayats. However, this number was 20, 512 in last panchayat elections.
A decrease has been witnessed in nominations for ward member’s posts as well. About 44, 344 candidates have applied for 19,159 posts of ward members, the lowest post in panchayats, compared to 53, 591 nominations last time in 2005.
For the block development committee’s (BDC) post, 7,050 applications have been received this time, compared to 8,262 for 1,651 BDC posts last time. 1470 forms have been received for 240 posts in zila parishad (ZP). The number was 1,492 in 2005. Most startlingly, as many as 20, 903 people have come forward to contest for up-pradhan’s post. last time indirect elections were held for the post
As many as 46.11 lakh voters would caste their votes for 3,195 panchayats, out of a total of 3,243 gram panchayats , 75 out of 77 block samitis and eleven out of twelve zila parishads in the state.
