Polling being held for first phase of BMC election in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, polling is being held for the first phase of the General Elections of the Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis today. Across the state, the first phase polling would be held in 15 Zilla Parishads and 165 Panchayat Samitis. The total number of candidates participating in the elections for the 855 seats of Zilla Parishads is 4,289 and the number of candidates for 1,712 Panchayat Samiti seats is 7,700. The number of electorate is over two crore four lakhs which also includes 96 lakh 24 thousand women.

More than one and half lakh staff members have been deployed at 24,031 polling centres spread over these districts and the stringent security measures have also been put in place in order to ensure smooth



polling.

As far as Vidarbha region is concerned, polling would be held for five Zilla Parishads including Buldhana ,Yavatmal, Wardha, Chandrapur and some parts of Gadchiroli along with the Panchayat Samitis included in these districts. There are 1,508 candidates in fray for 256 seats of Zilla Parishads and 2,513 candidates are vying for 512 seats of the Panchayat Samitis in Vidarbha region.

The polling would be held between 07.30 a.m. to 05.30 p.m. except the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti seats contained in the eight Samitis of Gadchiroli district where it would be held till 03.00 p.m.The counting of votes would be taken up on February 23 after the second phase polling for the local bodies scheduled on February 21.