Polling underway for phase 2 of Rajasthan panchayat polls, faulty EVMs delay start at few booths
The polling began at 7 am for 352 wards of 22 zila parishads and 2,197 wards of 124 panchayat samitis.
Voting commenced in Rajasthan's second phase of panchayati raj elections on Wednesday morning across 22 districts. The polling took place at 352 wards of 22 zila parishads and 2,197 wards of 124 panchayat samitis, beginning at 7 am. However, the exercise faced some hiccups as electronic voting machines (EVMs) malfunctioned in certain areas, leading to delays.
Voters were permitted to cast their votes until 6 pm. Early voters, including Urban Development and Housing Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra, braved the queues for their turn. In Ganeshwar village, a 95-year-old resident, Mali Devi, along with her family, made the journey to cast her vote. Similarly, in Jodhpur's Tiwari panchayat samiti, EVM issues caused a 30-minute delay at two booths.
One incident involved an EVM developing a fault at booth number 71 in Muradpur village under Singhana panchayat samiti in Jhunjhunu, prompting a delay and subsequent replacement of the machine. The elections are being conducted in four phases, with the first held on October 22 and the second on October 24 for panch and sarpanch posts. The subsequent phases are set for November 3 and 14.
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