(1) The State Election Commission, shall frame a programme for general elections, bye election, as the case may be, of the Panchayats hereinafter referred to as the ―Election Programme‖ .
(2) The election programme shall specify the date or dates on/by/ or within which-
(i) the nomination papers shall be presented;
(ii) the nomination papers shall be scrutinised;
(iii) a candidate may withdraw his candidature;
(iv) the list of contesting candidates shall be affixed;
(v) the list of polling stations shall be pasted;
(vi) the poll, if necessary, shall be held from ……………………….
A.M. to ……………………. P.M. (the hours of poll shall not be less than 8 hours);
(vii) the counting, in the event of poll shall be done (here time and place fixed) for the purpose shall also be specified; and
(viii) the result of election shall be declared.
(3) The election programme shall be published ten days before the date of filing of nomination papers by pasting a copy at the office of the District Election Officer (Panchayats) and the Panchayats and at such other conspicuous places on the said Panchayat area as may be determined by the District Election Officer (Panchayats).
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(4) The period for filing of nomination papers shall be three days and the date of scrutiny shall be the next day from the last date of filing of nomination papers. The date of withdrawal shall be the third day from the date of scrutiny. The date for affixing the list of contesting candidates shall be the same as fixed for withdrawal of candidature. The list of polling stations shall be published well before the date of withdrawal. The gap between the date of withdrawal and the date of poll shall be ten days and the day of poll shall preferably be a Sunday or any gazetted holiday:
Provided that no nomination paper or withdrawal application shall be delivered on a day which is a public holiday.
(5) The State Election Commission or District Election Officer (Panchayats) if authorised by the State Election Commission may by an order amend, vary or modify the election programme at any time:
Provided that, unless the State Election Commission otherwise directs no such order shall be deemed to invalidate any proceedings taken before the date of such order.