Shimla, May 20 -- Ahead of the panchayati raj institutions (PRI) elections in the state, 10,854 candidates have been elected unopposed following the completion of the nomination withdrawal process and allotment of election symbols on May 15.

The polling process for PRIs will be conducted in three phases. The first phase of voting is scheduled for May 26, followed by the second phase on May 28 and the final phase on May 30. More than 50.79 lakh voters have been registered in the panchayati raj electoral rolls.

According to State Election Commission secretary Surjeet Singh Rathore, the notification for the general PRI elections was issued on April 29. Nomination papers were filed on May 7, 8 and 11, while scrutiny of nominations was carri...