372 in fray for 147 panches8217; posts

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7: As many as 372 candidates are left in the fray for the 147 posts of panches and 94 candidates for the post of 17 sarpanches in 17 village panchayats in the Union Territory, elections to which would be held on January 16.

Of the total 384 candidates, who filed their nomination papers for the posts of panches till yesterday, the nomination papers of 12 candidates were rejected during the scrutiny of papers today. None of the applications for the post of sarpanches was, however, rejected.

Though campaigning has yet to pick up in the villages, the exact position would be known only after the last date of withdrawal of papers on January 9.

As many as 80 polling centres would be set up for polling in the panchayat polls, where 57,219 villagers would exercise their franchise. 11,606 voters out of the total voters are scheduled castes.