Chandigarh, May 19, 2013: The elections conducted for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Smitis in the State on Sunday were ‘by and large’ peaceful barring a few stray incidents in some pockets of the State. As per the latest reports overall percentage of votes is about 65%.
Disclosing this here today SS Brar, State Election Commissioner said “There was no report of any big untoward incident from any polling booths,” Latest information reaching here in the evening stated that the overall poll percentage in both for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Smitis elections was recorded to be at around 65% However, the final figures are still awaited.
He said that the commission has decided to re conduct polls at 8 booths of 6 polling stations in the state, where reports of booth capturing, bogus voting and anomalies in voter lists have come to the fore. These booths, where the Commission decided to re-conduct polls, are Ropana booth 139 (Mukatsar), Kothe Maluk Pati booth 85 (Faridkot), Churriwal Chisti booth92 and 93, Ojhanwali booth 33 and 34, Kanha Ram booth 15 (Fazilka) and Indergarh booth 155 (Moga).
SEC said that re-polling on these booths would be conducted on on May 20.
Brar further said that the counting of votes for both Zila Parishad and Panchayat Smitis elections would take place on May 21.He said that all the results, including the result of re polling, would be declared on May 21.
SEC said that, “Despite blazing heat condition in the state, the voters turned out in large numbers to exercise their adult franchise to choose their preferred candidates”.
He said that the administration had made elaborate security arrangement for today’s polling. Large number of police was deployed in all vulnerable points, including sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations. Mr. SS Brar, extended his gratitude towards all the Political Parties and thanked the pooling staff and Police for enabling free and fare conduction of voting.