EC to begin soon delimitation of wards for panchayat polls

The state Election Commission will take up the work of delimitation of wards of Panchayati Raj Institutions on the basis of Census 2011 shortly, a senior official said today. "Delimitation work takes time so it is better to start the delimitation work now so that panchayat elections which are scheduled to be held next year can be held according to new area (ward-bandi)," said State Election Commissioner Dharamvir while addressing a meeting of district officials here today.

After delimitation, the wardbandi (boundaries) of some wards of Zila Parishad, Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Municipal Committee might change, he added. Dharamvir was also apprised about the shortage of staff in Development and Panchayat Department, to which he said that they can hire two retired employees for a year on ad-hoc basis for election related works.

He said that a scheme was also being prepared by election department to overcome the shortage of staff for elections. The official said that the voters lists for panchayat elections will be updated on the basis of Assembly election voters lists, taking January 1, 2015 as the qualifying date.

Efforts were being made to conduct panchayat elections through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in single phase in the entire state, for which EVMs in adequate numbers will be arranged, he said, adding

Panchayat polls will be held separately, on some other day, only in Mewat district so that police can be deployed in adequate number there. Also, Dharamvir said that the Election Department was considering conducting elections of Chairmen of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samities on a single day in all the districts of the state.