Drawing down the curtains on the suspense over the fate of panchayat polls, the State Election Commission has issued notification for holding elections to the rural local bodies in three phases from July 23.
State Election Commissioner P. Ramakanth Reddy said here on Wednesday that elections would be held to 21,491 panchayats and 2,17,578 wards.
The three-phase elections would be held on July 23, 27 and 31, he announced at a news conference in his office here on Wednesday.
Elections to 101 panchayats in various districts would not be held as some of them as in Ranga Reddy and other districts proposed to be merged with municipalities, while others were involved in litigation.
Mr. Ramakanth Reddy said the district-wise election notices would be issued by the respective District Collectors and Returning Officers on July 9.
However, the election code of conduct would come into force with immediate effect through out the State with the issue of election notification.
The ward-wise electoral roll of gram panchayats would be displayed on July 9 and candidates contesting as sarpanches and ward members can file nominations from July 9 between 10.30 a.m and 5 p.m.
The last day for filing of nominations is July 13.
