Chennai, Sept 22 (IANS)

Puducherry will have local body polls in three phases from October 21 to October 28 after a gap of fifteen years. The previous elections were held in 2006 and the period ended after five years in 2011. The announcement was made by the Puducherry State Election Commissioner, Roy P. Thomas in a press conference on Wednesday.

The commissioner said that the elections are being held in the directions from the Supreme Court. The elections will be held on October 21, October 25, and October 28. Counting of votes will be held on October 31.

Commissioner said that elections would be held for 1149 posts that include five posts of chairperson of five municipalities and 116 councilors of municipal wards, 108 commune panchayath ward councilors, presidents of 108 village panchayaths, and 812 village panchayath members.

In the first phase, elections would be held for municipalities of Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam along with five commune panchayaths in Karaikal region, Kotucherry, Nedungadu, Neravy, Thirumalairayanpattinam, and Thirunallar will be conducted.

Elections will be held in Puducherry and Oulgaret municipalities in the second phase and the five commune panchayaths in Puducherry, Ariyankuppam, Bahour, Munnadipet, Nettapakkam, and Villianur will be taken up in the third phase.

Filing of nominations for the first phase will begin from September 30, for the second phase from October 4, and for the third phase from October 7.

The State election commissioner said that the elections would be held from 7 am to 6 pm and the last one hour will be dedicated to Covid -19 patients. He said that EVM’s will be used for the first time in Puducherry local body elections.

10,03,256 voters will be casting their franchise in 1629 polling stations, the State Election Commissioner said.