Amid tight security, lakhs of voters exercised their franchise in the local body polls held across the State on Sunday to elect six mayors of municipal corporation, heads of 28 municipal boards and 35 Nagar Panchayat along with the councilors. With end of polling, fate of the candidates sealed in the electronic voting machines. The counting of votes would take place on April 30.
Apart from few skirmishes, the polling passed off peacefully. Starting in morning at 8 am, the polling concluded at 5pm. At several polling booths, long queues were seen after 5pm, the deadline for end of voting. At ward number 26, several voters returned without casting their votes because the presiding officer didn’t allow them since deadline was over. Before noon hours witnessed large number of turnout at polling booths. On an average, 12-15 percent voting was recorded in each district by 10am. Speedy voting was continued by 12. The voting, however, slowed down for two hours after 12. The polling showed uptrend soon after God Sun lowered His intensity, paving way for voters to cast their ballots.
The poll officials recorded 60 percent voting by 4pm. Youngsters, elderly people all participated in the voting with zeal. At some locations in the state, some politicians had an altercation with the police personnel after they asked them to follow the rules strictly not to take their vehicles.
At some places, workers of the political parties locked horn over alleged fake voting. The poll officials, however, denied any such incidents. In Bajpur area of Udham Singh Nagar, locals beat up a presiding officer after his alleged role in fake voting. Acting promptly, the administration replaced the presiding officer.
Two sides fought over alleged fake voting in Sultan Patti Bajpur area. The locals also created ruckus over reported fake voting at a booth in Girls degree college Haldwani. Ruckus was reported from two polling booths in state capital. In the state capital, candidates for the post of mayors kept taking situation from morning to evening. The supporters of candidates, present outside the polling booths, gave them updates on mobiles.
Presence of voters in large numbers at the polling booths made the democratic festival vibrant. Senior officials were also remained a busy lot during day long. They carried out inspections at the polling booths and paid special focus in the areas with sensitive and hypersensitive voters.
A total of 57 candidates tried their luck for six posts, including Dehradun, Haldwani, Kashipur, Rudrapur, Roorkee and Haridwar, of mayor across the state. Besides it 1057 candidates are in the fray for the councilor post of six municipal corporations. Similarly, 185 candidates tested their luck for the posts of heads and 1474 candidates for the 28 municipal board members; 245 candidates were trying their luck for the post of head and 899 for the member of 222 member of 35 nagar Panchayat. Several hundred candidates were in fray for the post of councillors in civic bodies. Thus a total of 3,898 candidates contested the polls.
60% polling recorded in Doon
Around 60 per cent polling was recorded in the civic polls in Dehradun, said district election officer BRVC Purushottam on Sunday. He claimed that polling was conducted peacefully by maintaining transparency. Electronic Voting Machines have been kept in the strong room, located at Sanatan Dharma Inter College, Bannu Race course, Dehradun. Ballot box of Municipal council, Rishikesh has been kept at IDPl and municipal council of Mussoorie at Dhananand Inter College there. The ballot box of Vikasnagar and nagar panchayat Harbatpur has been kept Asaram Vedic Inter College, Vikasnagar. The ballot box of nagar panchayat Doiwala has been kept at strong room, located at Doiwala, Dehradun SSP carried out inspections of the all strong rooms.