India: Panchayat elections in Rajasthan by Sumit Saraswat
The polling for the first phase of Panchayat elections in Rajasthan was completed on Friday. The vote cast for 26,800 wards of 87 Panchayat Samitis. 17,242 candidates for the Sarpanch post and 42,000 candidates for the Panch post are in the fray. More than 11,000 EVM machines were used for the first time in village council elections. As many as 31 senior officers of the IAS and RAS cadre was appointed for holding free, fair and peaceful voting in all panchayats. The second phase of polling will be held on January 22. The Panchayat Raj system was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan in Nagaur district on October 2, 1959. During the 1950s and 60s, other state governments adopted this system as laws were passed to establish panchayats in various states.
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