UP Zila Panchayat election process begins

In Uttar Pradesh, Zila Panchayat elections process begins from Tuesday. It will be completed by July 3. This election is being treated as semi-final for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the assembly polls next year. Though Panchayat polls are not held on party lines, political parties have annouced their candidates for the Gram Panchayats, Kshetra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats. As a result, BJP nominees faced defeats at several places.

Independent and Samajwadi Party nominees have won more seats in the comparison of ruling BJP. The BJP was trying to get support of independent winners to get victory for Chairman of Zila Panchayats. The Zila panchayat chairpersons for 75 districts will be elected by 3,050 members in various districts.

Of these, six seats are reserved for women, 16 for Schedule Casts and 20 for Other Backward Castes (OBCs). Ruling BJP and Samajwadi Party have already annouced their nominees for most of the Zila Panchayats. State Election Commission has issued notification for the polls. Elections for Pramukha Kshetra Panchayats will be followed by Zila Panchayat elections.

Three-tier Panchayat polls were held recently in the state. The government has faced strong criticism from different corners of the society for holding panchayat polls at a time when Covid-19 cases were surging. Several government employees, teachers and others have lost their lives after testing positive for Covid-19 during the polls.