Punjab Panchayat polls delayed by a week

The Punjab election commission today delayed by a week the polling process to the panchayat polls in the state.
As per the revised schedule, S S Brar the State election commissioner said the notification for the poll to the Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads will now be issued on May three.
While the last date for making nominations is May 8, the scrutiny will take place on May 9.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 19, whereas date of poll will be May 21.
The results will be declared on May 23.
He said that the state election commission is in the process of preparing to conduct elections to 145 Panchayat Samitis and 22 Zila Parishads due to be held in the state.

"Since one or two days ago information was being received in the Commission that in some of the districts delay is occurring in the publication of reserved seats and general seats. This matter was being looked into by the Commission," he said.

"Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Partap Singh Bajwa met the state election commissioner on April 23 stating that since there has been some delay in publishing the lists of seats meant for reserved and general categories, the notification scheduled to be issued on April 26 should not be issued," Brar said.
It was represented that some more time be given to the political parties to prepare themselves for these polls.

Along similar lines a request was also received by State Election Commissioner from the State Government wherein on account of the same reasons, it was requested that some more time be accorded.
Brar took a meeting with the Additional Deputy Commissioners (Development)-cum-Additional District Electoral Officers in the State to ascertain the ground realities.
Keeping in view the discussions held in the meeting and the fact that there was a few days delay in publishing the reserve and general seats and the request of the contesting parties, it is decided that the poll may be re-scheduled by a week, he said.

Meanwhile, Bajwa welcomed the decision to postpone the process of Panchayat, Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections for one week and described it as the victory of people of Punjab who were agitated over haste shown by SAD-BJP government in holding elections in middle of Wheat harvesting season.