Stringent security arrangements for Punjab panchayat polls

Sat, May 10 10:41 PM

Chandigarh, May 10 (PTI) Stringent security arrangements have been made with police personnel being deployed in strength for smooth conduct of panchayat polls for election of 324 members of 20 zila parishads and 141 members of panchayat samities in 12,705 villages in Punjab on Monday. A state election office spokesman said here that 88,700 employees, including around 30,000 police personnel had been deployed in the state to ensure free and peaceful elections to the panchayati raj bodies.

A total of around 17,714 polling booths, including 3,700 identified as sensitive, have been set up. Around 1.

51 crore voters would elect 79,849 'panches' (members) during the election. Five police personnel would be deployed at each of the polling station, the sources said adding that eight policemen would be deployed at the sensitive polling booths.

The state election commission has also appointed 29 observers for the elections, the results of which would be declared on May 14. The polls would be a test for the newly elected president of ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Alliance partner BJP, considered as a party with urban base, has for the first time, evinced keen interest in the poll by putting up candidates at several places. The saffron party is contesting 94 seats of zila parishads and 610 seats of block samitis.

The elections of the gram panchayats are also scheduled to be held later this month on May 26. PTI.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY