Bhubaneswar: The filing of nomination papers for the upcoming panchayat elections in Odisha starts today. It is scheduled to continue till January 21.
Candidates contesting the panchayat elections are to declare details of their criminal background, assets, and educational qualifications while filing nomination papers.
The scrutiny of the papers will be done on January 22 and the final list of candidates shall be published on January 25.
State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi had on January 11 informed that the panchayat polls in Odisha are to be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24.
The voters will exercise their franchise from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over 2.79 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect 91,913 ward members, 6,794 Sarpanches, 6,793 Panchayat Samiti members, and 853 Zilla Parishad members.
Counting of votes and declaration of results will be done at Block level on February 26, 27, and 28. The model code of conduct issued by the Commission will remain in force from today till February 28 throughout the State.
