Section 198 ·

(1) For the purpose of holding elections to fill ordinary or casual vacancies, the State Election Commission shall, by notification under sub-section (6) of section 197, published in the Gazette, call upon such date or dates, as may be specified therein, the voters of the Gram Panchayat or Mandal Praja Parishad or Zilla Praja Parishad, as the case may be, to elect Sarpanch and members of the Gram Notification and appointment of Returning Officers. Panchayat and/or Members of the Mandal Praja Parishad and/or Members of the Zilla Praja Parishad, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the rules and orders, if any, made thereunder. (2) The said notification shall specify the time Schedule for various stages of the ordinary elections as well as the elections to fill the casual vacancies, which shall be that,- From the date of election notice under sub-section (3), (a) nomination shall be filed Within a period of three days (including the day of notice) upto 5.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday) (b) scrutiny of nominations on the fourth day by 5.00 shall be completed p.m. (whether or not it is a (c) Appeal against rejection on the fifth day upto 5.00 of nomination shall be p.m. filed, before the (whether or not it is a Revenue Divisional holiday) Officer/District Collector (d) Disposal of appeal on the sixth day before against rejection of 5.00 p.m. nomination by the (whether or not it is a Revenue Divisional holiday) Officer/District Collector (e) withdrawal of on the seventh day upto candidatures shall be 3.00 p.m. allowed (whether or not it is a holiday) (f) publication of final list of on the seventh day itself, contesting candidates after the withdrawal of candidatures by 3.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday) (g) polling shall be held, on the fifteenth day, wherever necessary (whether or not it is a holiday) (h) counting of votes and on the fifteenth day i.e. declaration of results, in the date of polling. respect of Gram Panchayats (i) counting of votes and on the time and date declaration of results in appointed by the State respect of members of Election Commission. Mandal Praja Parishads, and Zilla Praja Parishads; and offices of Presidents and Chairmen thereof (3) The Returning Officer appointed for the purpose of conducting elections to the Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads and Zilla Praja Parishads, shall as per the above time Schedule specified by the State Election Commission issue the Election Notice for election of the Sarpanch, members of the Gram Panchayat, Mandal Praja Parishad, Zilla Praja Parishad etc. and the time Schedule shall commence from that date.