Jharkhand panchayat polls begin Saturday

November 26th, 2010 - 10:20 pm ICT by IANS  

Ranchi, Nov 26 (IANS) Jharkhand is holding its first panchayat polls since it was carved out from Bihar in 2000. The first of the five-phase panchayat polls begin Saturday, said an official.

“All necessary security arrangements have been made for peaceful polling on Saturday,” S.D. Sharma, Jharkhand Election Commissioner, told reporters here Friday.

Five helicopters will be used for air surveillance during the panchayat polls. Besides, 426 companies of paratroopers and state police will be deployed for peaceful poling.

In the first phase, total 1,348 panchayats of 77 blocks of the state will go to polls with 51,433 candidates in the fray. Their fate will be decided by 43,27,944 voters.

The last panchayat polls were held in 1979 when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. The polls were delayed in Jharkhand due to legal battle over reservation to tribal people in scheduled areas (notified tribal areas).

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