Bhubaneswar, Jan 22 (UNI ) A record number of 2,29,062 nominations have been filed for the three-tier panchayat elections in Odisha which is scheduled to be held in five phases between February 16 and 24.

State Election Commission (SEC) sources here said more than 94,000 candidates filed their papers on the last day of the nomination on January 21. The nomination had commenced on January 17.

While 1,62,297 have filed nominations for ward members, 34,613 for Sarpanch, 28,153 for Panchayat Samiti members and 3,999 have filed nominations for Zilla Parishad members.

On the last day of the nomination on January 21 as many as 65,828 filed their nominations for ward members, 14074 for Sarpanch, 12,512 for Panchayat Samiti members and 2191 have filed nominations for Zilla Parishad members.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on January 22 and January 25 has been fixed for the last date of withdrawal. The final list of candidates will be declared on January 25.

Elections will be held in five phases from February 16 to 24 and the results will be declared on February 26, 27 and 28.

This time, a number of professionals including engineers, lecturers, dentists, and aspiring civil service officers besides retired defence service personnel have decided to participate in the elections.

UNI BD DP GK