|
The possibility of using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for Panchayat elections in States will be explored through consultations with Chief Election Commissioner. Efforts will also be made to bring about uniformity in the process of conducting elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions through consultation with States and Union Territories. This was stated here today by Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj while addressing a meeting of State Election Commissioners on ensuring free and fair Panchayat Elections. The two day meeting of State Election Commissioners discussed issues involving reforms in the election procedures to Panchayati Raj Institutions on conducting timely elections, power of delimitation and reservation, preparation of electoral rolls, nomination procedures and conduct of free and fair elections. The conference was organized by PRIA (Participatory Research In Asia) with the support of Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Panchayat Elections are due in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The system of Panchayati Raj elects nearly three million representatives throughout the country. This number is nearly a hundred-fold increase over the number of elected representatives to state assemblies and national parliament. The system of reservation provided for in the constitution elects nearly one million women, four lakhs dalits, two lakhs OBCs and two and a half lakh tribals. For each voter in Panchayat elections in most states, four different ballots are cast—ward panch, sarpanch, member Panchayat samiti, and member zilla parishad.
|
