Himachal Pradesh News
Massive Response to Panchayat Polls in Himachal Pradesh : Over 10,000 Candidates File Nominations in Hamirpur and Bilaspur
The upcoming Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal Pradesh have witnessed massive participation, with a total of 10,060 candidates filing nomination papers in Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts. The high number of nominations reflects strong political interest and active grassroots participation ahead of the rural local body elections scheduled later this month.
The upcoming Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal Pradesh have witnessed massive participation, with a total of 10,060 candidates filing nomination papers in Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts. The high number of nominations reflects strong political interest and active grassroots participation ahead of the rural local body elections scheduled later this month.
According to officials, Hamirpur district recorded 5,333 nominations, while Bilaspur saw 4,727 candidates entering the electoral race for various Panchayati Raj posts, including Zila Parishad, Block Development Committees (BDC), gram panchayat pradhan, up-pradhan and ward member positions.
Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Gandharva Rathor said nominations were filed for around 1,860 posts across the district. These include 19 Zila Parishad wards, 119 wards under six Block Development Committees and positions in 242 gram panchayats.
She informed that 69 nomination papers were submitted for Zila Parishad elections, 529 for BDC wards, 1,058 for gram panchayat pradhan posts, 1,115 for up-pradhan posts and 2,562 for ward member positions.
Meanwhile, Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar said that 4,727 candidates filed nomination papers in the district. Of these, 88 nominations were received for Zila Parishad elections, 435 for Block Development Committees and 4,204 for gram panchayat-level posts.
Bilaspur district has 14 Zila Parishad wards, four Block Development Committees and 182 gram panchayats. Officials said the highest number of BDC nominations came from Ghumarwin with 163 candidates, followed by Bilaspur Sadar with 112, Jhanduta with 105 and Shri Naina Devi with 55 nominations.
For gram panchayat elections in Bilaspur, 871 candidates filed nominations for the post of pradhan, 963 for up-pradhan and 2,370 for panchayat member posts.
The Panchayati Raj elections in Himachal Pradesh will be conducted in multiple phases on May 26, 28 and 30. Officials confirmed that the counting for gram panchayat elections will take place on the same day as polling, while votes for Zila Parishad and Block Development Committee elections will be counted on May 31.
The large number of candidates in the fray highlights growing political engagement at the village level and is expected to make the upcoming rural elections highly competitive across both districts.
