ITANAGAR, March 20 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today said that the State Election Commission has deferred the forthcoming Panchayat and municipal elections, scheduled to be held in the months of April-May, in view of the novel coronavirus pandemic across the country.
Considering the seriousness of the prevailing situation, State Election Commissioner Hage Kojeen convened an all-party meeting on March 18 and after considering the views of all parties, he has announced that the process of elections to the Panchayats and municipalities will be put on hold till normalcy is restored, the Chief Minister said.
The State�s Health Department had on Wednesday recommended to the State Election Commission to postpone the local body elections in view of the outbreak of COVID-19 in several parts of the country.
Earlier, the State poll panel had in consultation with the State Government finalised the schedule for holding elections to Panchayati Raj institutions of the State and urban local bodies (ULBs) of Itanagar and Pasighat during April-May.
