Stage set for Panchayat polls in Punjab

Amid tight security, the stage is set for tomorrow's elections to Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads in Punjab, the campaigning for which was marred by violence in which four persons were killed.
Security force personnel had been deployed in strength to ensure smooth, free and fair elections, said state Election Commissioner S S Brar.
As many as 760 candidates were in fray for elections to 331 zones of 22 Zila Parishads, he said adding 30 were elected unopposed.
A total of 5,786 candidates were trying their luck for 146 Panchayat Samitis, Brar said.
The polling would be held in 12,000 villages and nearly 2650 out of 19350 booths had been declared sensitive.

The counting of votes would take place on May 21.

In the run-up to the elections, two persons were killed in clashes between SAD and Congress activists at Lopoke in Amritsar.
Two more persons, including a Congressman, were killed in violence at Patti and Bathinda ahead of polling.
In view of violence, the opposition Congress demanded deployment of central forces in Punjab which was rejected by the state election body.
State Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa alleged there was total lawlessnes in Punjab and demanded President's rule in the state.
Tomorrow had been declared a dry day in all villages where polling would be held, a spokesman of the Commission said.