UP Panchayat Polls, Counting of votes begins amid COVID guidelines

Lucknow, 02 May  (HS) :    Counting of votes for three tier Panchayat Elections in Uttar Pradesh started at over eight hundred counting centres across the state on Sunday at 8 am amid tight security arrangements and COVID guidelines. It is expected that the counting may take 36 to 72 hours for the final results to come.

The counting will decide the fate of 12,89,830 candidates who were in the fray for the seats of 58,176 Gram Pradhans, 75,852 seats in the block panchayats,  3,050 in the Zila panchayats and 7.32 lakh seats in the village panchayats.

Since the State Election Commission had assured the Supreme Court to follow COVID-19 protocol,  the counting of votes is taking place amid strict CORONA guidelines. No one is allowed to enter the counting centre without thermal scanning. Those who are corona positive are strictly prohibited.

Medical health desks are opened at all the counting centres. All the staff engaged for the process of counting and the police personnel are asked to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing.

Besides, the victory processions are completely banned and no one is allowed to gather outside the counting centres.

 Polling for the UP Panchayat Elections were conducted in four phases on April 15, 19, 26 and 29. The first phase of polling was held on April 15 in 18 districts, while 20 districts had gone into polling in the second phase on April 19.  Voting for the third phase was held on April 26 in 20 districts and the fourth and final phase of voting had taken place in 17 districts on April 29.