SEC orders elections in 1,427 village panchayats of Gujarat

"We have asked the district officials to conduct elections of 1,427 village panchayats by February 3," in-charge state election commissioner P S Shah said.

A notification in this regard has been issued by the respective district collectors' office, who are also election officers for the same, he added.

Elections at these places are being held as the term of village panchayats will end by February, he added.

There are around 18,000 villages in Gujarat.

"We have not issued any notification for the conduct of elections in two district panchayats, 15 taluka panchayats and 77 municipalities, where the term is nearing end," Shah said, adding that the elections in these places would be announced soon.