Arunachal Pradesh Prepares for Dec 15 PRI and Municipal Elections: 8.3L Voters to Cast Ballots
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Arunachal Pradesh is gearing up for the 12th General Elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and the third municipal elections in Itanagar and Pasighat. The polls will take place in a single phase on December 15, with the notification for nominations issued on Monday. According to the Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC), 8,31,648 voters will participate in the elections, including 7,59,210 Panchayat voters and 72,438 municipal voters. Notably, female voters outnumber males in the Panchayat rolls, with 1,123 women per 1,000 men. The elections will cover 27 Zilla Parishads with 245 constituencies, 2,103 Gram Panchayats comprising 8,181 Gram Panchayat seats, the Itanagar Municipal Corporation with 20 wards, and the Pasighat Municipal Council with 8 wards. A total of 2,171 polling stations have been set up for the Panchayat elections and 79 for the municipal polls. To ensure smooth and secure polls, the SEC will deploy 29 General Election Observers and over 40,000 personnel, including 15,000 polling staff. Security arrangements have been tightened in sensitive zones, and district-level master trainers have undergone training to oversee the process. The Model Code of Conduct has come into effect, and the SEC has appealed for cooperation from the State Government, political parties, candidates, and their agents to ensure 'free, fair and fearless elections' and strengthen the grassroots democratic framework envisioned under the Panchayati Raj system.
