The third and last phase of voting in 30 blocks of the state for election of three tier Panchayati Raj bodies ended peacefully on Wednesday.

The polling was by and large peaceful as no major untoward incident was reported. Polling started on a slow note at 8 AM on the day with 13.30 percent voters exercising their franchise till 10 am.

The polling picked up soon after and till 12 pm, 29.99 per cent voting was reported in all the 30 blocks which went to the polls on the day. The state election commission (SEC) data shows that 45.16 percent voter turnout was reported till 2 PM which jumped to 60.05 percent till 4 PM.

Enthusiasm was seen among the voters for the elections as long queues were seen outside many booths at close of the polling. Till 4 PM 75.38 percent voting was reported from the Udham Singh Nagar district.

Similarly, a healthy voter turnout of 72.57 percent was reported from Uttarkashi district till 4 PM while in Nainital district, 63.85 percent turnout was reported till 4 pm.

In these elections of third phase, 11,167 candidates were in fray for 21,391 posts of three-tier Panchayati Raj bodies.

Interestingly, only 2,176 candidates for 17,929 posts were in contest for the post of member village Panchayat. Similarly for 2,416 posts of village Pradhans 5,611 candidates were in fray. For 931 posts of the member block Panchayat, 2,845 candidates were in the contest while 535 candidates are fighting it out for 115 posts of district Panchayat member. After end of the polling for all three phases, all eyes are now on the counting of votes which would be done on October 21 and the results are expected to be declared on the same day.

Blocks of 12 district where voting was held on Wednesday

1 Almora district- Salt, Syaldeh and Bhikiasain blocks

2 Pauri district-  Rikhnikhal, Pokhra, Thalisain, Nainidanda and Beeronkhal blocks.

3  Udham Singh Nagar- Khatima and Sitarganj blocks

4  Champawat district- Pati Block

5  Pithoragarh district – Dharchula, Munsyari and Deedihat blocks

6  Nainital district - Betalghat and Okhalkanda blocks

7  Bageshwar district – Kapkot block

8  Uttarkashi district- Mori and Purola blocks

9  Chamoli district- Dewal, Tharali and Narayanbagar blocks.

10  Tehri district-  Kirtinagar, Narendranagar and Devprayag blocks

11 Dehradun district – Vikasnagar and Chakrata blocks

12  Rudraprayag- Agastyamuni block