Madhya Pradesh village panchayat polls to be held in 3 phases

BHOPAL: Village panchayat polls will be held in three phases in Madhya Pradesh on January 13, 19 and February 19, it has been officially announced.

Polls, which would be held across fifty districts which include 51,313 'janpads' and 22,851 village panchayats, would not be fought on party lines.

After announcement of polling dates, the election code of conduct has come into effect in the entire rural area of the state, MP State Election Commissioner R Parasuram told reporters here today.

He said that Madhya Pradesh ministers addressing press conferences are free to continue talking to the media but are restricted from making announcements to the rural population.

He said that elections won't be held in Anuppur district panchayat since the tenure of the local body has not yet ended.

A total of 3,41,77,063 voters including 1,62,53,346 women are expected to vote across 67,082 polling booths, including 23,232 sensitive booths.