HimVani
Dharamsala (Dec 27) Making it the highest-ever nominations for the Panchyati Raj and Urban Local Bodies, 90,471 candidates are all set for the week-long elections in Himachal Pradesh, beginning from tomorrow, Election department sources disclosed it here today.
The sources further added, that approximately 46.11 lakh voters, including 22.78 lakh women, would exercise their franchise at about 19,000 polling booths, during the Panchayat poll, which would be held in three phases on December 28 and 30 and January 1, 2011.
Crucial to both BJP and Congress, these polls are seen as a precursor to the 2012 Assembly elections in the state.
State Election Commission Chairman, Dev Swarup, disclosed that these elections would be held for 3195 Panchayats, 75 Block Samithis and 12 Zila Parishads and 48 Urban Local Bodies with the highest-ever nominations of 90,471 candidates received for these elections.
In 2008, the BJP-led state government increased cent to 50 per cent.
It is for the first time that the elections to Panchayati posts are being held under the new quota.
“The elections will be held for around 27,000 seats and 50 per cent reservation means almost half of the seats would be occupied by women candidates only,” Swarup added.
