By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 22 Jul: The first phase of polling for the three-tier panchayat elections in 12 districts is set to be held on 24 July and for the first phase, campaigning has ended today. Polling is scheduled to take place in 49 development blocks during the first phase. As per regulations, the clamour of election campaigning ceased at 5 p.m. today, 48 hours before the polls. Candidates will now only be permitted to conduct door-to-door canvassing until the voting day.
In Dehradun district, District Magistrate/District Election Officer Savin Bansal had informed that, in adherence to the directives issued by the State Election Commission, election campaigning and public meetings in favour of any candidate for the General Elections of the three-tier Panchayats – 2025 could only be organised up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled end time for polling.
He added that, in line with the Election Commission’s instructions, for the polling scheduled on 24 July in the district, candidates would not be permitted to hold election campaigns or public meetings after 5 p.m. today. Similarly for the second phase of polling to be held on 28 July, no campaigning would be allowed after 5 p.m. on 26 July. Any individual engaged in election campaigning who is not a resident of the three-tier Panchayat concerned is required to leave the said Panchayat area prior to the commencement of this 48-hour silent period.
The polling is slated for 26 development blocks across 6 districts in the Garhwal division and 23 development blocks across 6 districts in the Kumaon division during the first phase.
The second phase of polling is scheduled for 28 July, after which counting of votes will take place on 31 July, followed by the declaration of final results. Polling parties for the first phase began departing for their destinations yesterday. Today, polling parties for remote areas also departed, while those for other areas will depart tomorrow.
As part of the first phase of polling for the three-tier Panchayat elections on 24th July, 89 polling parties from Jyotirmath, Narayanbagar, Tharali, and Dewal blocks in Chamoli district departed today. The remaining 164 polling parties will depart for their polling stations tomorrow. A total of 258 polling stations in Chamoli will conduct voting for the first phase on 24 July.
For the first phase of the three-tier Panchayat elections, polling will take place on Thursday in three development blocks of Uttarkashi district: Naogaon, Purola, and Mori. On Tuesday, 81 polling parties were dispatched to remote polling booths in these three blocks. Polling will be conducted at 272 polling booths under Naogaon, Purola, and Mori development blocks on 24 July, while polling parties for the remaining booths will be dispatched tomorrow.
It may be reminded that the 49 development blocks where polling will be held in the first phase include: Takula, Dhauladevi, Tarikhet Bhainsiyachana, Lamgada, Chaukhutiya, Khatima, Sitarganj, Gadarpur, Bajpur, Lohaghat, Pati, Dharchula, Didihat, Munsiyari, Kanalichhina, Betalghat, Okhal Kanda, Ramgarh, Dhari, Bageshwar, Garur, Kapkot, Mori, Purola, Naogaon, Dewal, Tharali, Jyotirmath, Narayanbagar, Jaunpur, Pratapnagar, Jakhanidhar, Thouldhar, Bhilangana, Chakrata, Kalsi, Vikasnagar, Khirsu, Pabo, Thalisain, Nainidanda, Bironkhal, Rikhnikhal, Ekeshwar, Pokhra, Ukhimath, Jakholi, and Augustyamuni.
According to information received from the Election Commission, there are a total of 47,77,072 (around 47.77 lakh) voters in these Panchayat elections. This includes 24,65,702 male voters, 23,10,996 female voters, and 374 other voters. A total of 95,909 officers and employees have been assigned duties for the Panchayat elections. This comprises 11,849 presiding officers at polling stations, 47,910 polling officers, 35,700 security personnel, and 450 other officers.
As per the Election Commission, 32,580 candidates are in the fray for the Panchayat elections. This includes 1,587 candidates for 350 Zila Panchayat member seats, 9,194 candidates for 2,732 Kshetra Panchayat member seats, 17,564 candidates for 6,119 Gram Pradhan seats, and 4,235 candidates for 1,881 Gram Panchayat member seats. Meanwhile, 8 Zila Panchayat members, 240 Kshetra Panchayat members, 1,361 Gram Pradhans, and 20,820 Gram Panchayat members have been elected unopposed.
