Arunachal: State Election Commission announces by-elections for 54 panchayat vacant seats

The Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) announced by-elections for 54 vacancies in gram panchayat constituencies and two vacant seats in zila parishad constituencies to be held on November 6. 

The seats fell vacant due to various reasons including death and resignation from the posts, State Election Commissioner Rinchin Tashi told a press conference here. The Commission would issue a public notice in this regard on October 9, while the last date for filing nominations has been fixed on October 16. 

Scrutiny of papers would be held on October 18 while the last date of withdrawal of papers is October 21, the SEC said adding, the counting of votes would be held on November 8. 

Arunachal Pradesh has a total of 25 zila parishads with 242 constituencies and 2,115 gram panchayats with 8,145 seats. 

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Election to 40-gram panchayat seats and one in zila parishad in Vijoynagar administrative sub-division under Changlang district has, however, been kept pending due to law and order and other administrative issues, Tashi said. "As per the report of the district election officer, circumstances are not conducive for holding elections at Vijoynagar," the SEC said without elaborating on the issues. 

With the announcement of elections, the Model Code of Conduct came into force from Friday with a view to ensure free, fair and peaceful by-elections, and shall be applied to all political parties, candidates, MPs, ministers, MLAs, Advisors, employees of state and central governments, CPSUs and local bodies, Tashi said. 

"Over 500 election officials will be engaged for the election process which will be conducted in 73 polling stations in 23 districts of the state," the SEC informed, adding that security assessment would be done by the respective district election officer as per prevailing situations and inputs given by respective superintendents of police (SPs). 

The special summary revision of the electoral rolls of the concerned vacant panchayat constituencies had been done with respect to January 1, 2023, as the qualifying date and the final publication of electoral rolls was completed on September 25 this year, he said. 

The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly on March 15, 2018, passed the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill to do away with the Anchal Samiti, the intermediate level of the three-tier panchayati raj system and set up a two-tier system in the state. 

This was being done following the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution that enables a state having less than 20 lakh population not to have the intermediate level. 

Arunachal Pradesh has a population of 13.84 lakh. The last panchayat elections in the state were held in December 2020 and by-elections were held in July 2022 for one zila parishad and 130 gram panchayat seats respectively.