**Bhubaneswar: ** This time the three-tier Panchayat Polls in Odisha will witness block wise elections on single day while there will be no zone wise polling for the respective Zilla Parishad seats as used to be the previous provision.
However, two blocks-Pattamundai in Kendrapara district and Kolanara in Rayagada district-will have the grassroots-level elections on two dates.
Briefing media on Saturday, Rabindra Nath Sahu, Secretary, State Election Commission said, “The Panchayat Polls will be of five phases-February 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. While we had earlier provisions for zone wise polling for the Zilla Parishad and block wise, this time all Zilla Parishad zones will be mostly block wise and on one day except two blocks in Odisha. One is Pattamundai block in Kendrapara district which will be held on two dates. Second one is Kolanara block in Rayagada district and that is also on two dates. In the rest other blocks where there are Zilla Parishad zones, polling will be conducted on single date.”
Detailing on it, he informed, “On February 13, in 65 blocks election will be conducted for 189 Zilla Parishad zones. Similarly on February 15, in 65 blocks polling will be conducted for 175 Zilla Parishad zones. On February 17, in 65 blocks polling will be conducted for 175 Zilla Parishad zones. On February 19, in 62 blocks polling will be conducted for 162 Zilla Parishad zones. And eventually on February 21, in 59 blocks polling will be conducted for 151 Zilla Parishad zones.”
