The protracted election process for the Panchayati Raj bodies in 12 districts of Uttarakhand would end on Tuesday with the elections for the position of President and Vice President District Panchayats. The State Election Commission has made all preparations for free and fair conduct of polls.
The Deputy Commissioner, State Election Commission, Ajit Singh told The Pioneer that the voting for elections of President and Vice President district Panchayat in 11 districts would start at 9 am and would continue till 2 pm on Tuesday; the counting of votes would start at 3 pm.
He said that the election officials have been asked to allow only those members of the Electoral College who have the victory certificate of the Panchayat election or any other valid identity proof.
Singh said that 23 candidates each are in electoral battle for both the positions of President and Vice President District Panchayat in the eleven districts of the State.
He disclosed that three District Panchayat members have been provided the services of helper in Dehradun district and one in Uttarkashi district. Singh claimed that helpers have been provided only to the genuine members and utmost care is being taken in the entire process.
In Udham Singh Nagar the Congress supported candidates for President and Vice President have been elected unanimously while there is a triangular contest for both these positions in Bageshwar district.
The President and Vice President District Panchayat would be elected by an electoral college consisting of the newly elected members of District Panchayat.
For these positions of the district Panchayat there is a direct contest between the major political parties BJP and Congress in all the districts. The BJP has declared its official list of party candidates for 10 positions of District Panchayat President.
Congress on the other hand refrained from declaring its official candidates but has deployed senior ministers as in- charge of different district to ensure victories of party supported candidates. Senior leader Harak Singh Rawat for example is looking after a tough task of getting the Congress backed candidates elected in the districts of Pauri, Rudraprayag and Tehri while Pritam Singh is in charge of Dehradun district.
Dipti Rawat wife of Harak Singh is a candidate for President District Panchayat in Dehradun while brother of Pritam Singh is in fray from Dehradun district.