Healthy turnout in Gzb and GB Nagar local body elections
NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: Polling for the local body elections in Gautam Budh Nagar ended on Sunday evening with the district recording an average polling of 61.64%. A total of 88,919 votes were cast at 182 polling booths.
In Gautam Budh Nagar, ballot boxes were used for voting instead of electronic voting machines. Counting of votes will be done on December 1.
Of a total 1,44,236 registered voters across the district, 88,919 exercised their franchise in the six municipalities of Dadri, Jewar, Rabupura, Dankaur, Bilaspur and Jahagirpur.
Of the six constituencies, Jahagirpur recorded the highest polling — 74.16% — while Rabupura recorded the lowest — 55.95%.
“It was a quiet session in the morning with no incident of violence or discrepancies being reported. We maintained high security across the district and ensured that the elections are free and fair,” said Vivek Gautam, zonal magistrate for Jewar in GB Nagar.
In Jewar, there was some ruckus outside some poll booths as polling agents and political party representatives clamoured to assist people with their Aadhaar cards and ensure that their names are present in the voters’ list. “I am 84 years old and I have come early morning to cast my vote, which is my constitutional right. I have been voting in all elections, be it the state assembly, Lok Sabha or the civic body,” said Suresh Chand Tayal, a resident of Jewar.
GHAZIABAD POLLS
Polling for the nine local bodies in Ghaziabad, rural areas recorded higher voting percentages than urban segments.
The Ghaziabad municipal corporation saw a mere 40.12% polling, as per the provisional data received till 9pm on Sunday, down from 43.3% recorded during the previous local body elections.
While the turnout was average in city areas, voters of nagar panchayats of Patla, Niwari and Farid Nagar turned out in large numbers and the three areas recorded a provisional polling percentage of 75.34%, 46.95 and 69.78%, respectively.
“The low turnout in urban centres is because of the disconnect between the candidates and voters. Candidates in rural areas are from among the residents and they have a personal touch with the locals,” said colonel (retd) TP Tyagi, president, flat owners’ federation.