Raj revises panchayat poll schedule, advances 3 phases

Jaipur: The Rajasthan State Election Commission on Tuesday advanced polling for the first three phases of the Panchayati Raj elections by a day, citing religious sentiments associated with the Dhanteras festival. Under the revised schedule, polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members in the first phase will now be held on October 22 instead of October 23, while voting for panch and sarpanch posts will take place on October 24 instead of October 25.

In the second phase, polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members has been advanced from October 29 to October 28, while voting for panch and sarpanch posts will now be held on October 30 instead of October 31. Similarly, in the third phase, polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members will now be held on November 3 instead of November 4, while elections for panch and sarpanch posts will take place on November 5 instead of November 6.

The indirect election of deputy sarpanches by elected ward panchs will be held on October 25, October 31 and November 6 for the first, second and third phases, respectively. The commission said the schedule was revised keeping in view the religious sentiments associated with Dhanteras. Accordingly, polling parties for the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections will now leave for their respective polling stations on October 21, October 27 and November 2 for the first three phases, respectively.