Rajasthan panchayat byelections: 72 per cent turnout in 34 panchayats

JAIPUR: In all, 72.32% voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 130 candidates as the by-elections to the posts of sarpanches in 34 gram panchayats was held across 19 districts on Sunday.
The highest voting was recorded at a gram panchayat of Dhorimanna panchayat samiti in Barmer district where 92.88% voters cast their votes. At 46.18%, the lowest voting was recorded at a gram panchayat of Basni panchayat samiti in Nagaur district. While no nomination papers were filed in eight gram panchayats, candidates won uncontested in six other gram panchayats, read a state election commission (SEC) statement.
Chief Electoral Officer Chitra Gupta informed that 19.08% voter turnout was recorded 10 am. The voting percentage reached 38.39 till 12 noon, 58.21% till 3 pm and 72.11% voters cast their votes till 5.30 pm. Initially, 214 candidates had filed 215 nomination papers for the posts of sarpanches in 40 gram panchayats. After scrutiny and withdrawal of nominations, 130 candidates were left in the fray.