10pc increase in number of panchayat seats in Sikkim

Panchayat ward-wise voters lists have also been compiled by the State Election Commission, official sources said.

After the delimitation for Territorial (Zilla Panchayat) and Gram Panchayat Units, there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of seats this time.

The territorial wards for Zilla Panchayat have been increased to 110 from 93 [32 for East, 28 each for South and West and 22 for North District].

Similarly, 13 new Gram Panchayat Units have been created in the new delimitation process resulting in the increase of 161 Gram Panchayat Units in 2007 to 174.

The number of wards for Gram Panchayat Units has also increased to 987 from 889 wards in 2007.

"After carving out Bazaar areas into notified urban areas under Gangtok Municipal Corporation and the five Nagar Panchayats, the State Election Commission with the cooperation of RMDD has carried out fresh delimitation for rural areas for both Territorial and Gram Panchayat Units in Sikkim,