The state election commission issued a draft notification on Tuesday, mentioning the status of the seats at the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (SMP), the smallest third-tier rural body in the state.

In the Siliguri subdivision, the three-tier panchayat elections were held for the last time in October 2015. So, the next polls are due in a couple of months.

The notification says five of the nine seats at the SMP are general, while two each are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Among the nine, four seats have been reserved for women candidates. Sabhadhipati Tapas Sarkar and Opposition leader Kajol Ghosh will have to choose other seats if the quota is implemented according to the notification.

“Both their seats have been reserved for ST women. However, it is only a draft and anybody can raise objections within 15 days from the date of publication of the notification for consideration of the state election commission,” said a source in the Darjeeling district administration.