The five-phase panchayat polls begin with the election in three districts: Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore on Thursday. A large number of seats in the first-phase fall in the sensitive Jangalmahal area, therefore most of the booths have been declared sensitive and hyper-sensitive. Due to this development, between 60 to 70 per cent booths will not be covered by Central forces.
In view of the Ramazan which is beginning on Thursday, the state election commission has taken special measures for the convenience of Muslim voters as well as polling officers. A pre-dawn Sehri meal has been arranged for the Muslim booth workers and fasting Muslim voters are asked to cast their votes early in the day. The SEC on Wednesday informed that the first-phase panchayat elections is taking place at 10,038 booths in 71 blocks with 74,45,621 electorates. In three districts, there are 650 gram panchayats, 71 panchayat samitis and three zila parishads. The total number of candidates to contest in the seats of gram panchayats is 20,207 while 4,833 candidates will contest in the seats of panchayat samitis. Similarly, 709 candidates will contest in the seats of zila parishads.
It is for the first time that a helicopter will be used to conduct emergency supervision in panchayat elections.