As many as 2,20,789 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the three-tier Gram Panchayat elections in Odisha to be held in five phases from February 13.
"Notwithstanding threat from Maoists, as many as 2,215 candidates have filed their papers in Malkangiri district. Even 12 candidates have filed their papers in the cut-off area of Malkangiri district, considered a den of the Maoists," said State Election Commission (SEC) Secretary Rabindanath Sahu said.
Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh president Nachika Linga, who was suspected to have strong links with the Maoists, has filed nomination papers as a candidate for Narayanpatna Zilla Parishad seat before the sub-collector from jail through his lawyer.
Linga's wife Nachika Tikai has also filed her papers for the post of sarpanch from Podapadar gram panchayat.
While 1,56,086 candidates have filed papers for the post of ward members, 33,348 persons filed nomination for sarpanch posts.
Similarly 27,475 persons have filed papers for Panchayat Samiti members, while 3,880 nominations have been received for the post of Zilla Parishad members, SEC officials said.
Sahu said the highest 16,054 nominations have been filed in Balasore district and the lowest 1,908 nominations have been filed in Jharsuguda district.
The scrutiny of nomination papers was going on today, while the last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 21 and the final list of candidates would be published on the same day, Sahu said.
As per the notification issued by SEC, voting would be conducted in five phases on February 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 in a block-wise pattern and counting would take place on the same dates.
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