Alarmed over the violence in the first phase of elections of village prdhan on November 28, the State Election commission (SEC) has made elaborate security arrangements for peaceful conduct of the second phase on December 1. The second phase will cover 14,432 villages of 202 development blocks. Nearly 1.16 lakh candidates are in the fray for 14,432 posts of village prdhan.
The campaigning in these 202 blocks came to an end on Sunday. More than 3 lakh security personnel, including 40 companies of Central forces have been deployed.
State Election Commissioner S K Agarwal said that arrangements for smooth conduct of polling in the second phase has been completed. He said that the SEC was more worried over the post poll violence than the violence on poll day.
``Such poll-related violence took place even in the state capital and could not be prevented by the police,’’ said the SEC.
He said taking a lesson from rampant violence witnessed during the first phase on November 28, security has been beefed up.
Over 2.91 crore electorate are expected to exercise their franchise at 43,940 polling booths. Of the total candidates in this phase, 45.29 per are women.
Academically, 11.9 per cent illiterate, 41.9 per cent candidates have passed primary classes, 13.8 per cent have passed junior high school, 10.5 per cent have passed high school, 9.13 per cent have passed intermediate, 7.9 per cent are graduates, 2.6 per cent post graduates while a a miniscule 0.03 per cent are doctorates.
As per details of the assets of the candidates, 61.7 per cent have properties worth up to Rs five lakh and 11.44 per cent have between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
The age of the candidates for 56 per cent vary between 36 and 60 years and 5.91 per cent over 60 years age.
The elections for village pradhan and panchayat members are being held in four phases. Third phase will place on December 5 and the fourth and last phase on December 9. In six districts, the polling for the third and fourth phases would be held on December 7 and 10. Counting of votes for all the four phases would be held on December 13.
Meanwhile on December 1, polling will also be held on those booths where the SEC had ordered repoll on November 28. The repoll will be held in one booth of Ramnagar block in Basti and two booths in Kannauj.