AGARTALA, July 3 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar would kick start Left Front’s campaign trail for the three-tier panchayat elections from Charilam in Bishalgarh subdivision, according to party sources.

While the first rally would be held at Charilam on July 5, he is scheduled to address elections some rallies at Dhanpur, Boxanagar and Sonamura to ensure the landslide victory of the ruling front.

Sarkar would be touring Kailashahar, Dharmanagar and Kamalapur from July 9 to 11 to campaign for the party for the ensuing panchayat elections. Sources said all the party units were asked to mobilize organization to pull maximum crowd in the election rallies. In some areas, the ruling party is facing anti-incumbency wind which may ruin the party’s poll prospect. Chief Minister is expected to address 30/40 election rallies where party requires his service due to defuse anti-incumbency factor.

Besides Sarkar, party secretary Bijan Dhar would also address some election rallies to garner the voters’ support for the ruling front. Of the total seats of 591 Gram Panchayats, the ruling CPM candidates won 870 seats uncontested. As many as 13665 candidates submitted their nominations for the 591 Gram Panchayats while 1,143 candidates filed their nomination papers for 419 seats of 35 Panchayat Samities.

The elections would be held on July 15 while the counting is scheduled to be held on July 18.

The three-tier panchayat elections would be held on printed ballot papers instead of EVMS. Despite the Centre’s denial of sending central forces, the state election commission wants to use 17 companies of BSF jawans who are undergoing training.