<span style="color: #222222;">In Sikkim, the third municipality election concluded peacefully this evening. According to official sources, the state recorded approximately 72 percentage of voting for seven urban local bodies. AIR Correspondents reported that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, people turned out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. Sikkim governor Ganga Prasad cast his vote at the White Memorial Hall polling booth and appealed to people to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The seven local bodies that went to polls are Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Singtam Nagar Panchayat, Rongpu Nagar Panchayat, Namchi Nagar Parishad, Naya Bazaar Jorthang Panchjayat, Gayzing Nagar Panchayat and Mangan Nagar Panchayat.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">There are a total of 51 municipal wards in the state, out of which polling was held for 40 Wards as candidates from 11 wards of the state have been elected unopposed. These included one ward each from Mangan, Geyzing, Nayabazaar-Jortethang and Rongpo Nagar Panchayts, three from Namchi Municipal Council and four from Gangtok Municipal Corporation. In Gangtok Municipal Corporation, the number of Wards have increased from 17 to 19 with the addition of Bojoghari 2nd Mile and Pani House.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Today's polling has sealed the fate of 151 candidates until the counting of votes on 3rd of April. The state administration has set up 90 polling stations to enable over 82 thousand voters to cast their votes. The administration made adequate security arrangements to ensure fair and peaceful polling. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It is for the first time in Sikkim's history that non-party based election was held for the local bodies in the state. This became possible after the state legislative assembly amended Sikkim Municipality Act 2007 by ing a new section 14A in the Municipality Act, which does not allow any support to candidates from any party, directly or indirectly. The counting of votes will be held on 3rd of April. The tenure of present Municipal bodies ended on 16th of October, but the election was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br />''