Overview
- The State Election Commission released the full timetable on Saturday, with nominations opening from October 8 and phased polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members on October 23, October 29, November 4 and November 14.
- The exercise covers 41 Zila Parishads, 457 Panchayat Samitis and 14,403 Gram Panchayats after reorganisation, and will elect about 1.55 lakh representatives across the three tiers.
- More than 4.03 crore electors are on the rolls and 45,384 polling stations will be set up to handle the expanded electorate and reconfigured boundaries.
- Village-level panch and sarpanch polls will use ballot papers with same-day counting at Gram Panchayat headquarters while Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti member polls will use EVMs with counting of those results on November 20.
- The Model Code of Conduct is in force in rural areas and the schedule’s seat reservations—including 50% reservation for women and specific SC/ST/OBC quotas—will shape candidate eligibility and make these polls a key organisational test for major parties.