(1) Every Candidate for election as Chairman must be nominated in Form 27-A in writing. The nomination paper must be signed by two Ward members present at the meeting as proposer and seconder and delivered to the Returning Officer. The nomination shall also contain a declaration in writing expressing the candidate’s willingness to be elected as Chairman and signed by the Candidate. Where the office of the Chairman is 48 reserved under Section 57 of the Act to persons belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes 14[***] the Candidate shall give in writing a further declaration that he or she belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe 14[***], as the case may be. All the nominations filed and found to be valid under these Rules shall be accepted. All the nominations which are not found valid shall be rejected.
The Returning Officer shall record in writing his orders of such rejection with reasons therefor.
24[Provided that in the case of Panchayat Union Councils or District Panchayats, where the total number of Ward members are five or less than five, the nomination paper may be signed by one Ward member present at the meeting as Proposer and Seconder is not necessary].
(2) The Returning Officer shall record in the minutes book of the Panchayat the names of all the validly nominated Candidates so proposed and seconded.