Panchayat elections: 190 sarpanches and 1,872 panches elected unopposed in Phagwara

After the withdrawal of nominations for the panchayat elections, 863 candidates for the posts of sarpanch and 2,705 for the posts of panch have remained in the election field, scheduled to be held on October 15.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Amit Kumar Panchal said that after scrutiny and the withdrawal of nominations, election symbols have been allotted to the candidates for posts of sarpanch and panch.

In Dhilwan block, there are 154 candidates for sarpanch and 525 for panch; in Kapurthala, 228 for sarpanch and 691 for panch; in Nadala, 122 for sarpanch and 412 for panch; in Phagwara, 183 for sarpanch and 629 for panch; and in Sultanpur Lodhi block, there are 176 candidates for the posts of sarpanch and 448 candidates for the posts of panch.

He said that 190 sarpanches and 1,872 panches had been elected unopposed. It included 25 sarpanches and 263 panches in Dhilwan block, 39 sarpanches and 421 panches in Kapurthala block, 37 sarpanches and 322 panches in Nadala block, 18 sarpanches and 287 panches in Phagwara block; and 71 sarpanches and 579 panches in Sultanpur Lodhi block.

The Deputy Commissioner said the administration had made adequate arrangements to conduct the elections on October 15 in a peaceful manner.

He said the first rehearsal of the election staff had been performed while other rehearsals were being conducted to make the election staff aware of the voting process.

He appealed to the people to vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level.