The campaigning for the third phase of the panchayat election ended on Sunday. The campaign for the panchayat elections was very hectic and candidates used all possible means to woo the rural electorate. The polling for the third stage of panchayat elections would be held in 30 blocks of 12 districts on June 24.
The poll campaign for the Panchayati Raj institutions in the State saw the candidates using both traditional and modern methods. large hoardings and banners of the candidates are dotting the countryside of Uttarakhand for these elections. The candidates are using the time tested method of booze and money to secure the votes in their favour. The liquor from the States like Punjab and Haryana is flowing freely in the villages and tipplers are flooded with offers of booze parties. The candidates with BJP connections used the popularity of Narendra Modi to garner votes in their favour while the Congress backed candidates are fighting on their own in these elections. The candidates also used of social media and mobile applications to hilt in these elections. Anoop Negi a candidate for Pradhan from Aita village of Duggada block of Pauri Garhwal said that he and his friend circle used the WhatsApp in these elections for spreading his message to the voters.
After the end of campaigning at 5 pm on Sunday the candidates of third phase of panchayat polls started the door to door campaign to seek the votes. An electorate of 17,20,006 voters belonging to 2,548 village Panchayats of 30 Blocks would elect their representatives in the third and last phase of panchayat elections. The State Election Commission has set up 2,886 polling stations and 3,777 polling booths for this phase of elections.