2nd Phase Panchayat elections in Telangana to held tomorrow

The ruling TRS continued its winning streak in the ongoing panchayat polls in the State. The party supporters are said to have registered victory in nearly 1,800 of about 2,130 gram panchayats where elections were declared unanimous. As on Wednesday, unanimous elections were declared in 769 villages in the first phase, 788 villages in second phase and another 573 villages in third phase. However, the State Election Commission is yet to declare the unanimous elections held for panchayats in third phase.

Through unanimous elections, the gram panchayats will be eligible to receive financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to take up development works in the respective villages. Following wide publicity campaign taken up by TRS, voters in many gram panchayats especially the newly created panchayats are opting for unanimous elections. Further, the amendments made to the new Panchayat Raj Act by the State government, will make the panchayats eligible to avail funds upto Rs 30 lakh each.

In the first phase panchayat polls, the TRS supported candidates dominated the polls throughout the campaign as well as during the election results. Though the elections were held without the party symbols, the ruling party is said to have won more than 2,600 sarpanch posts in 4,470 panchayats where polling was held on January 21 for first phase.

Meanwhile, campaign for second phase of panchayat raj elections to be held on January 25, concluded at 5 pm on Wednesday. In all, elections were proposed in 4,135 panchayats of which 788 villages declared unanimous elections and elections to another five panchayats have been kept pending due to lack of nominations. Officials said that elections will be held for 3,342 villages. While about 10,668 candidates are contesting for the sarpanches posts in 3,342 villages, another 63,480 candidates are contesting for 26,191 wards in the second phase of panchayat elections. Re-polling also will be held for two wards in Munjalakunta of Warangal Rural district and Somanapalli in Peddapalli district where election was held earlier on January 21 as part of first phase.