As many as 10,985 candidates contesting the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal Pradesh have been elected unopposed after the completion of the withdrawal process, the State Election Commission said on Tuesday.
The unopposed winners include 131 gram panchayats, 176 pradhans, 85 panchayat samiti and zila parishad members, 286 vice-pradhans and 10,307 ward members.
Shimla district recorded the highest number of unopposed candidates at 1,888, followed by Kangra with 1,682 and Kullu with 1,329. Sirmaur registered 1,309 unopposed winners, while Solan had 1,184. In tribal district Lahaul and Spiti, 841 candidates were elected unopposed. Una reported 728 such candidates, Hamirpur 587, Bilaspur 421, Chamba 412, Kinnaur 332 and Mandi 272.
The commission said the notification for the general PRI elections was issued on April 29. Nomination papers were filed on May 7, 8 and 11, while scrutiny was conducted on May 12 and 13. Election symbols were allotted to contesting candidates after the withdrawal of nominations on May 15.
