Jaipur/Udaipur: Around 85% of the more than 1.06 crore eligible voters exercised their franchise across 27 districts Thursday in the third-phase elections for 3,716 sarpanch and 34,218 ward panchayat posts.However, violence erupted in Udaipur’s Navaghara gram panchayat after the results were declared, with supporters of the defeated candidate allegedly pelting stones at the counting venue, setting a property on fire at a nearby booth and vandalising vehicles. Additional police forces were rushed to control the situation.In Jaipur district, polling for sarpanch posts in 133 gram panchayats across five panchayat samitis recorded a final turnout of 90.12%, district election officer (Panchayat) Sandesh Nayak said.In Navaghara gram panchayat under Kherwara panchayat samiti in Udaipur, the violence broke out around 11.30 pm after Pushpa Devi was declared elected sarpanch. According to residents, supporters of the defeated candidate became agitated as the winning candidate was being escorted from the counting venue, Govt Senior Secondary School Navaghara, to her home. They allegedly pelted stones at the counting centre and set property on fire at a nearby booth.The crowd vandalised four-wheelers and two-wheelers parked on the premises, while chairs, tables, and other items were also broken and burnt. The disturbance continued for around half an hour, making it difficult for police to maintain law and order. Additional forces from Bawalwada and nearby police stations rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Fire brigade personnel extinguished the flames.In Jhunjhunu’s Rampura gram panchayat under Gothda panchayat samiti, supporters of defeated candidates protested on Thursday night after Subhita Devi was declared elected sarpanch, questioning the result. The situation escalated into a clash when police tried to disperse the protesters. Additional personnel were called in around 4 am, and a large force was deployed in the village as a precaution.In Bharatpur’s Darr Barahna gram panchayat under Bayana panchayat samiti, a dispute arose after Vimla Kumari won the sarpanch election by just one vote. Despite counting being conducted twice, the rival candidate and supporters alleged that three votes had been left out. The Bayana SDM reached the spot, following which it was decided to conduct the counting at her office.Meanwhile, a polling staff member suffered a heart attack while on election duty at Rajmahal gram panchayat in Tonk’s Deoli panchayat samiti. He was taken to Deoli sub-district hospital, where doctors referred him to a higher medical centre due to his serious condition.The election of deputy sarpanches in gram panchayats that went to polls in the third phase was held Friday.
85% turnout in Raj panchayat polls; violence erupts in Udaipur after results | Jaipur News
