1,89,099 candidates in panchayat poll fray: SEC office

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Bhubaneswar: Total 1,89,099 candidates are in the panchayat poll fray according to the final list declared by the State Election Commission (SEC) after the deadline for nomination withdrawal got ended yesterday, said secretary of the commission Rabindra Nath Sahu today.

“For the sarpanch post 26,539 candidates are in the poll battle whereas 22,109 are in the fray for panchayat samiti member post. In case of zilla parishad, 3,288 candidates are in the poll clash while 1,37,163 are in the fray for ward member post,” Sahu elaborated.

He added, out of total valid nominations, 17,616 candidates have withdrawn their papers.

Campaigning for the panchayat poll started today after nomination, scrutiny and withdrawal process got over yesterday.

Sahu stated, “The poll campaigning will end at 7 pm on February 11 i.e. 36 hours before poll day on February 13.”

Also read: SEC defers panchayat poll process in Chitrakonda block

“General Poll Observers and Expenditure Observers have already joined their duty. The Expenditure Observers are apprising poll candidates on how to maintain accounts and register on poll expenses so that the same can be examined in future,” Sahu added.

The State Election Commission has received the list of star campaigners from different political parties. As per the Election Commission guidelines, one political party can have maximum 40 star poll campaigners, he said.