Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Union Administration Minister Arun Sao announced on Friday that the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections in the state will be held using the ballot paper system.
The minister cited the delay in the maintenance of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the elections as the main reason for this decision.
He said the Electoral Commission is making arrangements to ensure that the election process runs smoothly.
“Preparations are in full swing, strategies have been planned to deal with the various challenges caused by the change of voting papers,” he said.
The minister also said that the government is planning to finish the elections before the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams, so that the exams are not disrupted.
The code of conduct will come into effect on January 7, marking the official start of the electoral process.
Sao said the government is also trying to introduce a reservation process for candidates to ensure fair representation and inclusion.
Panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in Chhattisgarh in February 2025.
Panchayati Raj elections are local government elections to elect representatives of local bodies, including Sarpanches (household heads) and other Panchayat members.
Votes are administered by the State Election Commission, and are conducted using paper ballots or electronic voting machines, depending on the guidelines issued by the government.