44,731 candidates file nominations for Assam panchayat polls

A total of 44,731 candidates have filed nominations for 15,899 panchayats and zilla parishad seats in the first phase of the panchayat polls scheduled to be held next month whose withdrawal of nominations ended on Monday, officials said.

A total of 881 candidates have filed nominations for 251 posts in zilla parishads, 3,935 for 1,304 posts in Anchalik panchayats, 4,493 for 1,304 presidents post of gaon panchayats and 35,423 for the 13,040 member posts of gaon panchayats, Assam State Election Commissioner H N Bora told reporters here.

The number of candidates contesting the Panchayat polls have decreased this time with around three candidates less against each seat, he said.

The number of nominations may have come down due to the Panchayat (Amendment) Bill passed by the state assembly which bars persons without functioning sanitary toilet and more than two children to contest the forthcoming polls, Bora said.

The commission has also stipulated minimum education qualification criteria required for the candidates to be members and chief of different levels of Panchayati Raj bodies in the state.

The gaon panchayat and zilla parishad polls will take place across the state in two phases on December 5 and 9 in a total of 26 districts and 14 civil sub-divisions.

The counting will take place on December 12 and the entire process will be completed by December 15.