Of the total candidates, as many as 10,942 aspirants are in the fray for the 5,295 seats of 511 Gram Panchayats (GPs) and a total of 682 candidates remained in the electoral battle in 299 seats of 23 Panchayat Samities. In 82 seats of four Zilla Parisads, the number of candidates stands at 207. Of the total contested seats in GPs, the number of aspirants stands at 3,739.
Briefing the media, GC Bhattacharjee, secretary to the State Election Commission on Tuesday told that CPM has alone fielded 5,108 candidates for the Gram Panchayats while opposition Congress has fielded 5,168 its nominees.
Preparations are in full swing to conduct the elections, he said adding that Returning Officers were asked to strictly monitor the election process.
According to political analysts, the three-tier Panchayat elections will witness a neck and neck fight between CPM and Congress which has managed to put up candidates in almost all the seats of GPs.
The ruling CPM is expected to face resistance from Congress as corruption and nepotism have already taken toll on its campaign trail. In spite of waiting for PCC instructions, local Congress leaders and supporters have come up with full strength to give a befitting reply to the CPM’s alleged terror tactics.