75% polling in last phase panchayat elections; counting on May 2

The fourth phase recorded the highest turnout among all the phases

LUCKNOW: Polling for the panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh ended on Thursday with 75.38 per cent turnout in the fourth and final phase, which was marred by a group clash in Mathura and death of two workers who fell ill while being on poll duty.

The fourth phase recorded the highest turnout among all the phases.

In the first phase of the polls held on April 15, an average polling percentage of 71 was recorded. The second phase on April 19 also saw over 71 per cent polling.

In the third phase on April 26, the polling percentage of was 73.5.

More than 2.98 crore voters were due to cast their votes in 17 districts -- Ambedkar Nagar, Aligarh, Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Ghazipur, Farrukhabad, Bulandshahr, Basti, Bahraich, Banda, Mau, Mathura, Shahjahanpur, Sambhal, Sitapur, Sonbhadra and Hapur.

According to the State Election Commission statement, there were 10,679 candidates in the fray for 738 posts of zila panchayat members in the final phase.

A total of 55,408 candidates contested for 18,356 posts of kshetra panchayat members. While 1,14,400 candidates were in the fray for posts of gram panchayat members, 3,47,436 contestants fought for 1,77,648 posts in gram panchayat wards.

The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

RIVALS CLASH

In Mathura district’s Barsana, eight people were injured when supporters of rival groups exchanged fire, police said. They have arrested six people from both factions.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Shrish Chandra said polling was affected for some time at the Nehra village centre before they brought the situation under control.

The injured were rushed to hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable.

In Shahjahanpur district, two government employees died after taking ill while on poll duty.

Among them, sanitation worker Sobaran Lal complained of uneasiness and died later in hospital, District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh said the family will be given Rs 15 lakh as government assistance.

Another worker posted a video clip on social media as her health deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital. In Kalan block too, a teacher was taken to the hospital after recording a similar video.

The cause of the two deaths is not immediately clear but employee associations have been alleging that several people on poll duty have succumbed to coronavirus infection.