October local body polls in two phases

The SEC would conduct the polls for electing ward members from 12 municipal corporations, 124 municipalities, 528 town panchayats, 31 district panchayats, 388 panchayat unions and 12,524 village panchayats and candidates could start filing their nominations from September 26. With the announcement of the dates for polls, model code of conduct has been implemented across the state with immediate effect. 

While the last date for filing nominations has been announced as October 3, scrutiny of candidates’ nominations would be conducted the following day and those interested in withdrawing from the polls have to do so by October 6, election commissioner Seetharaman said at a press meet here. 

The counting process will begin on October 21 and entire process would be completed three days later. The elected ward members would be assuming office on October 26. Indirect elections for the posts of mayor, deputy mayor, municipal chairman and their deputies would be held on November 2, 2016, the election commissioner said. 

Voting would begin at 7 am and go on until 5 pm on both the days when a total of 5.8 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise. This includes 2.92 crore women and 4584 persons under the ‘Others’ category. Polls would be conducted in 91,098 polling booths, including 62,337 booths in rural areas.