The most challenging phase of the panchayat polls in two blocks of Haridwar district of Bahadrabad and Bhagwanpur passed off peacefully with a record number of voter turnout of 85%. Bahadrabad block has the maximum number of voters 2,37,205 out of a total of 373677 and the electoral fortune of a total of 4,536 contestants was sealed on Sunday. The voting was cast between 8 am and 5 pm and though most of the offices were closed for Sunday but a holiday was declared by the district administration on account of the elections.
Since morning villagers were seeing queuing up outside the polling booths.
The second phase of Zila Panchayat polls in the two blocks of Haridwar district was held on Sunday. Speaking about the security arrangements to The Pioneer, SSP Haridwar Santhil Abudai Krisha Raj S, said, “Elaborate security arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of polls. “We had divided both constituencies in 2 super zones, 6 zones and 61 sectors and more than 1500 policemen, 700 home guards, 379 village chawkidars and 13 companies of PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) had been deployed. Each zone was headed by a Circle Officer and a Sub inspector was deputed for each sector.”
To deal with any exigency, Reserve Police Force was also arranged as backup said the SSP.
Second phase of the elections was very crucial for administration since both the blocks are the largest amongst the six in the district. In Bahadarbad block nearly 2772 candidates are in the fray while 2342 candidates of Zila Panchayat, Gram Panchayat, Kshtriya Panchayat and member of Garam Panchayat are fighting in Bhagvanpur block. Voting was done for a total of 12 seats for Zila Panchayat members, 72 of Gram Pradahan, 40 of Kshetra Panchayat and 890 of Gram Panchayat members.
District Magistrate Harbans Singh Chugh had given special directions to the polling parties a day before and instructed the electoral officers not to leave their duty without handing over to the reliever. He told The Pioneer, “Till 4 pm, 72.40% voting was recorded in Bahadrabad block and 76.18% in Bhagwanpur. It is expected the number would cross 85% by the end of the day.”
Special arrangements were made in the highly sensitive 379 polling stations. 227 polling centers were marked under sensitive category.
It is pertinent to mention here that the three tier panchayat polls is being conducted in three phases. In the first phase polls, laksar and Khanpur blocks were covered on December 22. Second phase was held on Sunday in Bahadarabad and Bhagwanpur blocks whereas the last phase will be conducted in Roorkee and Narsen blocks on January 2 next year.