Raipur: The second phase of the three-tier Panchayat elections was conducted peacefully across 9,738 polling stations in 43 blocks of 30 districts in the state on Thursday. Voter turnout reached 51.49 percent by 1 PM, showing significant engagement as the day progressed.
Initially, voter turnout at 11 AM was recorded at an average of 27.78 percent, consisting of 27.61 percent male voters and 27.83 percent female voters. However, participation increased notably as the hours passed.
Polling took place in various blocks including Bilha (Bilaspur district), Pendra (Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district), Lormi (Mungeli), Nawagarh (Janjgir-Champa), Malkharoda (Sakti), and several others, encompassing a diverse range of districts such as Raigarh, Surajpur, Balrampur, Surguja, and more.
Voting hours were set from 7 AM to 3 PM, with Bastar division polling between 6:45 AM and 2 PM. Elections were held for the positions of Panchs, Sarpanchs, Janpad Panchayat members, and Zila Panchayat members. The State Election Commission noted that the counting of votes began immediately after polling at the respective stations.
State Election Commissioner Ajay Singh confirmed that the elections proceeded without incident across all participating blocks. The elections utilized colored ballot papers: pink for Zila Panchayat members, yellow for Janpad Panchayat members, blue for Sarpanch, and white for Panch posts.
The election was contested by a total of 65,716 candidates for Panch posts, 15,217 for Sarpanch, 3,885 for Janpad Panchayat members, and 699 for Zila Panchayat members. In total, there were elections for 26,988 Panch positions, 3,774 Sarpanch positions, 899 Janpad Panchayat positions, and 138 Zila Panchayat positions.
Looking ahead, the third phase of the Panchayat elections is scheduled for February 23, with results for the first phase to be announced on February 22 and for the third phase on February 25. Earlier in the election cycle, a total of 71,917 candidates for Panch positions, 432 for Sarpanch, 40 for Janpad Panchayat member, and one for Zila Panchayat member were elected unopposed.
