Large gatherings seen as vote count underway
‘Only overall results would be declared, and no party-wise results would be made available’
LUCKNOW/AGRA: Large gatherings of candidates, their supporters and agents were seen at most of the 829 centres where the counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls was underway in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday amid the Covid-19 surge.
Although restrictions were ordered in and around the counting centres in the entire state till Tuesday morning, police personnel were seen having a tough time managing the excited crowds.
This situation arose even as the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday said the final results of the three-tier panchayat polls were expected to be available after Monday noon and the counting was in progress in the state.
“As per the information available till now, as many as 16,510 village pradhans, 1,12,358 village ward members and 35,812 kshetra panchayat members have been declared elected so far,” a spokesman for the commission said in a written statement issued on Sunday evening.
“The final results are expected to come after Monday noon,” he added.
LUCKNOW/AGRA: Large gatherings of candidates, their supporters and agents were witnessed at most of the 829 centres where the counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls was underway in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday amid the Covid-19 surge.
Although restrictions were ordered in and around the counting centres in the entire state till Tuesday morning, police personnel were seen having a tough time managing the excited crowds.
This situation arose even as the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday said the final results of the three-tier panchayat polls were expected to be available after Monday noon and the counting was in progress in the state.
“As per the information available till now, as many as 16,510 village pradhans, 1,12,358 village ward members and 35,812 kshetra panchayat members have been declared elected so far,” a spokesman for the commission said in a written statement issued on Sunday evening.
“The final results are expected to come after Monday noon,” he added.
“The counting of votes has begun at all the centres after preparing bundles of ballot papers,” an SEC official said. He claimed all measures were being taken to enforce the Covid-19 protocols.
SEC had earlier said the candidates and their agents will be allowed to enter the counting centres only if they have tested negative for Covid-19 in the 48 hours prior to the commencement of the counting process or taken both doses of the vaccine.
Reports from Agra and Aligarh said physical distancing norms were flouted at most of the locations where counting took place in different districts of the two divisions on Sunday.
The administration and police authorities had claimed that strict compliance with norms would be ensured. Thermal checking by health department began when most of the staff involved had entered the counting venue, it was alleged.
The candidates and their agents paid no heed to physical distancing in districts of Agra, Kasganj, Etah and Firozabad, it was further alleged.
The supporters of two candidates came to blows in Etah district. Later, the police brought the situation under control there. Police did not allow any victory procession.
The Supreme Court on Saturday had refused to stay the counting process. In a special urgent hearing on a holiday (Saturday), a bench of Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice Hrishikesh Roy passed the order after taking note of several notifications and assurances of the SEC.
Not fought on party lines For his part, the SEC official also said that only the overall results would be declared, and no partywise results would be made available.
“In UP, panchayat polls are not fought on party lines even though many political parties do back candidates and claim their victory accordingly,” he said.
The counting will determine the fate of over 12 lakh candidates.
Candidate dies in Ballia
In Ballia, Shailesh Singh, 45, a candidate for pradhan of Rampur village died on Sunday morning. Family sources said Singh’s condition deteriorated suddenly and he was taken to a doctor who declared him dead.