As many as 10,060 candidates have filed nominations in Hamirpur (5,333) and Bilaspur (4,727) for elections to the Zila Parishad, Block Development Committees and gram panchayats. Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Gandharva Rathor said that nominations had been filed for 1,860 posts (19 wards of Zila Parishad, 119 wards in six Block Development Committees and the positions of pradhan, up-pradhan and ward members of 242 gram panchayats) in the district for elections to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). She added that 69 nomination papers had been filed for the Zila Prashid elections, 529 for Block Development Committees, 1,058 for the posts of panchayat pradhan, 1,115 for up-pradhan and 2,562 for the posts of panchayat ward members.
In Bilaspur district, 4,727 candidates have filed nomination papers for the elections. Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar said that 88 nomination papers had been filed for the Zila Parishad elections, 435 for Block Development Committees and 4,204 for gram panchayat posts. He added that there were 14 wards in the Zila Parishad, four Block Development Committees and 182 gram panchayats in the district.
Rahul said that 435 candidates had filed nominations for Block Development Committees (112 in Bilaspur Sadar, 163 in Ghumarwin, 105 in Jhanduta and 55 in Shri Naina Devi) while 4,204 candidates had filed papers for elections to 182 gram panchayats (871 for the posts of pradhan, 963 for the posts of up-pradhan and 2,370 for the positions of panchayat member).
The voting for the PRI elections would be held on May 26, 28 and 30 and the results of the gram panchayat elections would be declared the same day while the counting of votes for the elections to the Zila Parishad and Block Development Committees would be held on May 31.