Delimitation of Zilla and Gram Panchayat Units completed

10% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PANCHAYAT SEATS
GANGTOK, 09 July: The delimitation process for the upcoming two-tier Panchayat elections in Sikkim [scheduled to be held in September-October later this year] has been completed by the department of Rural Management and Development and the Panchayat ward-wise voters lists have also been compiled by the State Election Commission.
This time, after the delimitation for Territorial (Zilla Panchayat) and Gram Panchayat Units, there has been a 10 percent increase in the number of seats. The territorial wards for Zilla Panchayat have been increased to 110 from 93 [32 for East, 28 each for South and West and 22 for North District]. In comparison to 2007 list of territorial wards, 9 more seats have been added in East, 3 in South, one seat in West and four seats in North.  
Similarly, 13 new Gram Panchayat Units have been created in the new delimitation process. The 161 Gram Panchayat Units in 2007 have been increased to 174 in 2012 [increased from 45 to 52 in East District, 25 to 47 in South District, 27 to 55 in West and 19 to 22 in North district].
Simultaneously, the number of wards for Gram Panchayat Units has increased to 987 from 889 wards in 2007.
“After carving out Bazaar areas into notified urban areas under Gangtok Municipal Corporation and the five Nagar Panchayats, the State Election Commission with the cooperation of RMDD has carried out fresh delimitation for rural areas for both Territorial and Gram Panchayat Units in Sikkim,” informed State Election Commissioner, SK Gautam.
Mr Gautam added that the delimitation process was carried out as per the Panchayat Act 1993, which has empowered the State Election Commission to do so.  On Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad’s allegations of not holding any public hearing while finalizing the delimitation process, he clarified that there is no provision in the Panchayat Act to hold a public hearings while undertaking the delimitation process for Territorial and Gram Panchayat Units.
He informed that the delimitation and finalization of voter lists for the ward level has also been completed, adding that distribution of reserved seats is under process.
He said that the polling dates are yet to be finalized, explaining that the dates for September cannot be confirmed in view of the ongoing monsoon season. However, he added that could possibly be held around mid-October.
The State Election Commission will finalise the dates after due consultation with all political parties and Rural Management and Development Department, which is the nodal department for the Gram Panchayats, Mr Gautam informed.
The State Election Commission has completed all the formalities for the upcoming elections but in view of the monsoons that might cause problems in transportation, which is important for holding elections and for other security concerns,  the polling dates are still be confirmed, he added.