Polling for the second phase of elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will be held tomorrow across the state. As many as 1,276 panchayats will go to polls. A total of 17.30 lakh voters are registered for the second phase, including 8,74,416 male electors, 8,55,597 female electors, and 17 other electors.
According to the State Election Commission, all necessary arrangements have been made to conduct the second phase of voting in a fair and peaceful manner.
Unlike in the first phase, when the voters cast their vote under oppressing hot weather conditions, the weather is likely to be far more comforting tomorrow. According to the weather department, there’s a possibility of light to moderate rain across the state. The cooler weather in the second phase may push up the voting percentage logged in the first phase (78.8 per cent).
Like in the first phase, the voting will be held from 7am to 3 pm, and each voter will cast five votes, one each for a ward member, vice-pradhan, pradhan, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad member. The ballot paper for each post will be of different colour. For the panchayat ward member, the ballot paper will be white, yellow for vice-pradhan, green for pradhan, pink for Panchayat Samiti member and blue for Zila Parishad member.
The voters can use any of the 16 approved documents as an identity proof.
Meanwhile, the election commission informed that voting in Ward No. 2 of Gram Panchayat Samwal, Tissa development block, Chamba district, had been cancelled because the presiding officer permitted some electors to vote with companions but did not obtain the required declaration from the accompanying electors on the prescribed form, thereby compromising the integrity of the voting process. The Commission has therefore decided to conduct fresh voting in this ward. “Voting will now take place on May 30, and counting and declaration of results will be held on May 31,” said the release issued by the commission.
In another lapse, in gram panchayat Banah‑Dhini of Pachhad development block, district Sirmaur, the counting process was suspended because a ballot box used in the Zila Parishad election got swapped with a ballot box used in the panchayat election. The counting for that panchayat will be done today under police protection.
