In Maharashtra, the second phase polling for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti seats relating to four talukas including Aheri, Etapalli, Bhamragad and Sironcha in the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district in Vidarbha region is being held today.

There are 102 candidates in the fray for 16 Zilla Parishad seats and 172 candidates are vying for 32 Panchayat Samiti seats in the four talukas. For an electorate of over one lakh 72 thousand 315 polling centres have been set up in the area.

They also include 99 sensitive and 135 highly sensitive centres for whichun unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place. The services of two helicopters have also been taken for deployment of the polling and security personnel at the designated places.

With all the major political parties deciding to contest these elections separately and entry of number of dissidents and independents, the electoral contests are mostly multi-cornered.

During the first phase of General Elections to Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis under their jurisdiction, around sixty seven per cent voters exercised their franchise on February 7 in the seven districts of Vidarbha region.

They included Nagpur, Amravati, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Wardha, Chandrapur and parts of Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad along with eighty three Panchayat Samitis associated with them.

Counting of votes for both Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis would be taken up at different taluka headquarters on the 17th of this month along with that of Municipal Corporation elections slated to be held on February 16th.