65% turnout in 5th phase of Panchayat polls in Bihar

A total of 65 per cent voter turnout was recorded in fifth phase of panchayat polls in Bihar today amid stray incidents of clashes and destruction of ballot papers.
"The Commission has received reports of 65 per cent of voters turnout in the fifth phase of panchayat polls that passed off peacefully barring some stray incidents," State Election Commissioner (SEC) A K Chauhan told reporters.
Chauhan, who was accompanied by the Commission's Secretary Dugesh Nandan, said this figure was against 62.6 per cent turnout in fifth phase in the 2011 panchayat polls.
Chauhan said repolling has been ordered at three places in Gaya district following the complaints of missing ballot papers and pouring of water into ballot boxes.

Repolling would be held at polling station number 126 of Dobhi block, polling station 163 of Wazirganj block and polling station number 120 Barun block of Gaya district, he added.
Polling in fifth phase was held in 59 blocks of 38 districts at 13253 polling stations.

A total of 492 persons were arrested, while 31 vehicles seized besides a cash of Rs 20,400 during the fifth phase of polling, the Commissioner said.
In the fifth phase, voters exercised their franchise to elect 126 members of Zila Parishad, 1279 members of panchayat samities, Mukhiya and Sarpanch in 935 gram panchayats, 12859 members of Gram Panchayat and 12758 members of Gram Kutchery.

The 10 phase three-tier panchayat polls are being held to elect a total of 1161 members of Zila Parishad, 11496 members of panchayat samities, Mukhiya and Sarpanch in 8392 gram panchayats, 114733 members in Gram Panchayat and Gram Kutchery each.