Powers and functions of the State Election Commissioner.

(1) All elections to the Panchayat Raj Institutions shall be held under the supervision and control of the State Election Commission and for this purpose it shall have power to give such directions as it may deem necessary to the Commissioner, District Collector or any officer or servant of the Government and the Panchayat Raj Institutions so as to ensure efficient conduct of elections under this Act.

(2) The preparation of Electoral Rolls for the conduct of all elections under the Act shall be done under the supervision and control of the State Election Commission.

(3) For the purposes of this section the Government shall provide the State Election Commission with such staff as may be necessary.

(4) On the request of the State Election Commission, the State Government shall place at the disposal of the Commission such staff of the State Government, Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads and Zilla Praja Parishads for the purpose of conduct of elections under this Act.

(5) The State Election Commissioner may, subject to control and revision, delegate his powers to such officers, as he may deem necessary.

(6) The State Election Commission shall issue the notification and schedule for general election and elections for casual vacancies in all Panchayat Raj Institutions. The schedule and the dates on which the elections will be conducted shall be decided by the State Election Commission in concurrence with the State Government, which has to consider matters pertaining to Law and Order situation, internal security, availability of police, security personnel, home guards, central armed police forces and the logistics of their deployment, availability of staff for election related duties, availability and procurement of election related material and premises for polling and counting, conduct of elections to other legislative and statutory bodies, natural calamities and seasonal conditions including drinking water situation and agricultural season, major fairs and festivals, education calendar and examinations in schools and colleges, onset of any epidemic diseases, operations relating to collection of vital statistics like census or any other enumeration, and matters involving public interest and any other administrative exigencies:

Provided that in case multiple phases are required, the schedule of each phase shall have a gap of not more than five days from each other.