Rajasthan records 83.05% turnout in first-phase panch-sarpanch pollsJaipur: A total of 2,113 candidates are in the fray for zila parishad seats and 9,540 for panchayat samiti seats in the third phase of Rajasthan’s rural elections after scrutiny of nomination papers. Polling will be held on Nov 3. Separately, deputy sarpanch elections are being held Sunday in 3,314 gram panchayats across 16 districts, with ward panchs voting to elect their deputies.A booth-level officer (BLO) died after his health deteriorated during the nomination process for the deputy sarpanch election at Duka gram panchayat in Dungarpur district Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Ashok Kumar Bariya (40).Bariya, a teacher at Rajkiya Prathmik Vidyalaya Palanpura, was deployed for election duty in his panchayat and was handling several arrangements for polling personnel. He had stayed overnight at the school as counting after the sarpanch election continued till late Saturday. His condition worsened Sunday while nominations for deputy sarpanch were under way on the school premises.Bariya was taken to Modasa Hospital in Gujarat where a doctor declared him dead after examination. The cause of death has not yet been ascertained. The polling team informed the administration while the post-mortem report and further police action are awaited.Meanwhile, Rajasthan recorded a final voter turnout of 83.05% by the close of polling Saturday in the first phase of panch and sarpanch elections across 16 districts.The deputy sarpanch elections are being conducted through meetings of ward panchs, with 28,682 elected representatives set to choose deputies in the 3,314 gram panchayats. Only ward panchs are eligible to vote, and the elections are held without party symbols. Voting is followed by counting and declaration of results on the same day.However, the election process was marred by incidents of violence and disputes over results in parts of the state Sunday.In Garu gram panchayat of Kathumar panchayat samiti, Alwar, a dispute erupted over the counting of votes, with Hardevi, the candidate who finished second, staging a dharna outside the polling centre. Her supporters alleged that she had been defeated by 76 votes and claimed that a bundle of ballot papers was found lying inside the school when they reached the centre.The protesters demanded a recount. The sub-divisional magistrate assured them that action would be taken as per rules if any irregularity was established. He asked the villagers to submit concrete grounds for recounting in writing so the matter could be taken forward. However, the protesters remained firm on their demand, leading to a verbal altercation with the SDM.In Bikaner, stone-pelting was reported in Kela gram panchayat of Chhatargarh panchayat samiti after the election result was declared late Saturday night. Following the victory of the candidate, Jamila, some people allegedly resorted to stone-pelting. Vehicles belonging to the police and administration were damaged. Police used mild force to control the situation.In Bhilwara, a group of people allegedly pelted stones at the car of the son of the newly elected sarpanch in Gudha gram panchayat under Mandal police station limits Sunday. Police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
