Dehradun, June 22 -- The three-tier panchayat elections will be held in two phases across 12 districts, except Haridwar, the state election commission announced on Saturday. While addressing a press conference in Dehradun, Uttarakhand state election commissioner Sushil Kumar said, "The voting for the first phase of the panchayat elections will be held on July 10, followed by the second phase on July 15. The counting of votes will take place on July 19." He said that a notification has been issued for the panchayat elections in 12 districts, except Haridwar. The model code of conduct is now in effect with the announcement of schedule for panchayat elections, he added. As per the schedule, nominations will be accepted from June 25 to June 28. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from June 29 to July 1, Kumar added. The date for the withdrawal of nominations is July 2. The allotment of symbols for the first phase of elections will take place on July 3 and second phase on July 8. According to the state election commission, across 89 development blocks in 12 districts,the elections will take place to elect 55,587 village panchayat members, 7,499 village panchayat heads (pradhans), 2,974 block development council members, and 358 district (zila) panchayat members. Over 477,700 voters will exercise their franchise in the panchayat elections, an increase of 10.57% from 2019 panchayat elections. As per the breakup, 231,000 are women voters, and 246,500 are men voters. Ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the three-tier panchayat elections are crucial for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress who have expressed confidence for victory in the panchayat polls. State BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said, "The BJP has already completed preparations for the three-tier panchayat elections. We aim to win maximum seats and posts at all three levels of the panchayat system. For this, the party has devised a strategy. As per the instructions of BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt, two senior office-bearers have been assigned as supervisors and visiting workers in each assembly constituency. Their role is to conduct internal consultations and submit a panel of three potential candidates for the zila panchayat member seats. They will also oversee election management in their respective areas." "The BJP registered a one-sided victory in the recently held civil polls and will repeat the same performance in the panchayat elections," Chauhan added. However, state vice president of Congress Suryakant Dhasmana said that his party will do well in the panchayat....