By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The Panchayat and Zilla Parishad elections will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Polling will be held from 7 am to 1 pm. At the time of polling, each voter is required to produce Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or any of the 13 other documents approved by the SEC.
In first phase, polling will be held for 200 Zilla Parishad member posts in 1,669 Gram Panchayats under 71 blocks with total 726 persons in fray. Over 67.51 lakh people will cast their vote to be held at 22,379 booths, of which 3,357 have been identified as sensitive.
Over 2.79 crore voters will exercise their franchise in total 91,913 wards of 6,794 Gram Panchayats across all districts in 5 phases. Of the total 91,913 polling booths, 13,785 have been identified as sensitive, said, State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhee. Total 225 platoons of police force comprising 37,245 cops will be deployed to maintain law and order.
