Four-phase panchayat polls in Jharkhand

Ranchi: Panchayat elections in Jharkhand will take place in four phases between November 22 and December 12, Jharkhand Election Commission chief Shiva Basant said on Thursday.

"Elections to the three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions will take place on November 22 and 28 as well as December 5 and 12," Basant told the media.

The counting of votes polled on November 22 and 28 will take place on December 6 and the counting of December 5 and 12 votes will take place on December 13 and 19 respectively, he added.

"The model code of conduct has come into effect with immediate effect," the officer added.

Jharkhand Home Secretary NN Pandey said the administration was committed to conduct free, fair and peaceful polls.

"Police will be deployed in sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths. Security will be provided to voters and poll officials," he said.

The last panchayat polls in the state were held in December 2010.