The final phase of panchayat elections for two blocks – Roorkee and Narsan - in Haridwar district went off peacefully on Saturday except a few minor incidents of disputes. Over 85 per cent polling was reported from Roorkee while in Narsan block it was around 80 percent. The counting of votes for this election will start from 8 am on January 5.
Meanwhile, the polling in Roorkee and Narsan started at 8 am and continued till 5 pm at 255 polling booths and 301 polling booths respectively. The district election officer had deployed adequate police forces at each polling booth. Voters came out in large number to cast their votes. Since morning, voters were seen making long queue outside the polling booths. Sunshine during the day facilitated the continuous flow of voters at the polling booths.
Voters were reported to be standing in queue after 5 pm at many polling booths in both the polling blocks. Over 85 per cent and more than 80 pecent polling reported in Roorkee and Narsan respectively. The polling of three-tier Panchayat election went off peacefully in the district, said Haridwar district magistrate Harbans Singh Chugh while talking to The Pioneer.
For around 1.34 lakhs voters, 255 polling booths were made in Roorkee block to conduct Panchayat election peacefully. For 1.74 lakhs voters, as many as 301 polling booths were made for Narsan block, he added.
Haridwar SSP Santhil Abudai Krisha Raj S, said, “Elaborate security arrangements were made for the smooth conduct of polls in two blocks. No report of any major untoward incidents was reported from the poll bound areas in the district. The first, second and final phases of panchayat polls were held peacefully in the district.”
He further said that the election areas were divided into two super zones, five zones and 51 sectors. SP City was made in-charge of super zone, Roorkee while SP rural as in-charge of super zone Narsan. Circle officers have been made zone in-charge while sub-inspectors have been made sector in-charge.
Moreover, in order to conduct third and final phase of election at Roorkee, adequate police forces were deployed at 144 ultra- sensitive, 85 sensitive and 16 general booths. Adequate police forces were deployed at 209 ultra- sensitive, 77 sensitive and 15 general polling booths in Narsan block.
It should be mentioned here that Uttarakhand State Election Commission has conducted three- tier Panchayat election in Haridwar district around two months before the five- year tenure of previous Panchayat ends in view of the forthcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela slated to start in January, 2016. The first and the second phase of Panchayat elections were held on December 21 and December 27 respectively.
A total of 8, 30, 905 voters - 3, 93, 697 women and 4, 37, 208 men- were listed in the voter’s list in this three- tier rural body election. The election commission has made 1508 polling booths and 520 polling centres to conduct peaceful election. The election was held for 3736 posts of Gram Panchayat, 308 posts of Gram Panchayat pradhans, 221 posts of Kshetra Panchayat and 47 posts of District Panchayat.