Bhubaneswar: With about a month left for the Panchayat Polls in the state, filing of nomination papers by candidates will begin today and continue till January 21.

The final list of candidates will be out on January 25.

As earlier announced by the State Election Commissioner (SEC), those, who will file false affidavit in their nominations, will be punished as per law.

While scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on January 22, the last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 25.

Also Read: BREAKING: Dates for Odisha Panchayat Polls declared

The three-tier elections will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. People will exercise their franchise from 7 am to 1 pm. Counting of votes will take place at Block, Sadar level on February 26, 27 and 28.

In view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation, rallies, public meetings  have been restricted. Only digital and virtual campaigning will be allowed.

“Door-to-door campaign will be allowed with only five people. No victory processes will be allowed. Vaccinated and COVID-19 negative people will only be allowed inside counting centres," SEC Aditya Prasad Padhi had informed earlier last week.