Clarity on Local Body and Panchayat Elections Expected After January 15, Deputy CM Arun Sao Says Voting Will Be Conducted in Phases

Raipur
The schedules for municipal body and panchayat elections in Chhattisgarh will be announced simultaneously, with a unified code of conduct implemented for both elections. However, voting for municipal elections will not occur in a single phase. The entire process will be completed in 30 to 35 days, conducted in multiple phases.
Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration Minister Arun Sao confirmed that municipal body and panchayat elections would take place after January 15.
Reservation processes have been finalized, and details have been sent to the State Election Commission (SEC). The SEC will announce the election schedule following the finalization of the voter list on January 15.

While the elections will be announced together, voting will be conducted in different phases. Minister Sao stated, “Conducting elections together ensures the process concludes within 35 days, unlike separate elections, which could extend the code of conduct period to around 80 days.”
A code of conduct will apply for both elections once the SEC declares the dates.
The SEC has initiated the voter list revision, with the final publication scheduled for January 15, marking the starting point for the election process.

Sao emphasized the government’s intention to streamline the election process and reduce delays by holding both elections simultaneously.
Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jayswal asserted the government’s commitment to timely elections, with both municipal and panchayat elections being conducted together.
State BJP President Kiran Dev expressed support for simultaneous elections, noting, “If elections are staggered, five years will pass with continuous polls, hindering development.”

Congress’s Communication Department Chairman, Sushil Anand Shukla, expressed confidence in surpassing their previous election performance, highlighting their dominance in past municipal polls.
Congress plans to address public concerns about rising crime, including murders, rapes, thefts, and stabbings, attributing dissatisfaction to the state government.

The BJP will be targeted for allegedly failing to deliver on assembly election promises, such as providing Rs 500 LPG cylinders and constructing 18 lakh houses.
These elections are expected to set the stage for intense political rivalry between Congress and BJP in Chhattisgarh.