Peaceful panchayat polls in W. Singhbum

Chaibasa, Nov. 22: The polling of three-tier panchayat elections 2015 were held peacefully in various places of the West Singhbhum district, including Manjhari, Tantnagar, Jhinkpani and Sadar Chaibasa blocks, on Sunday .

In the first phase of panchayat election a large number of voters queued at every booth to exercise their franchise since 7 a.m. through 3 p.m. The ballot box and ballot papers were used for voting in place of EVM machine this time. There was no report of violence during the election. At 2 p.m., a minor incidence of violence occurred at a booth in the Udia Middle School, Chaibasa, between two zila parishad candidates.

Representatives of the local MP and zila parishad candidate Suru Nandi were heckled by voters due to the former�s unruly behaviour in the precinct of the polling area. However, the situation was brought under control by the administration soon.

The average voter turnout in the district was high � at an average of 72% in Tantnagar block, 72% in Manjhari block, 72% in Jhinkpani block, and 69% in Sadar Chaibasa block. Altogether, the fate of 46 zila parishad, 165 panchayat samity, 311 mukhiya and 499 ward member candidates were sealed today.