Second phase of panchayat elections in state today

JAIPUR: The second phase of panchayat elections in the state will be held on Wednesday in which 7.7 million voters will cast their votes to elect sarpanch and panch in 2,312 gram panchayats.

Voting will start at 8am and conclude at 5pm. Results will be declared by late Wednesday evening.

The state election commission (SEC) has made all preparations for free and fair poll.

In the second phase, 2,312 gram panchayats under 74 panchayat samitis will go to polls for election of sarpanch and 15,127 panch. “77,56,416 voters will exercise their right in voting on Wednesday. This i ncludes 37,43,174 women and 22 transgenders,” said a release from the SEC.

It said 21 sarpanch and 7,466 panch have already been elected unopposed in the second phase.

State election commissioner PS Mehra appealed to all voters to cast their vote without any fear to strengthen country’s democratic system. He said the voters should not vote without voting for the waiting for the last moment of polling. “The voters should maintain peace during polling and after the results, and

help the district administration in maintaining law and order,” he said.

There are 15,334 candidates are in the fray for the post of sarpanch and 43,376 candidates for the post of panch.

The release said more than 11,000 electronic voting machines (EVMS) will be used in the polling. About 30% machines have been kept as reserve. Engineers have reached the districts, where polling will be done, on

January 10 itself and will ensure glitches are resolved in shortest time.

The SEC said any complaints regarding voting can be done at Jaipur control room on 01412385855, 2385064 and 2385063

Elections for 2,690 gram panchayats were held on January 17 in which 81.51% people exercised their right to franchise. The highest polling percentage was recorded in Hanumangarh at 89.25%