The first phase of panchayat elections in Himachal went off peacefully on Sunday with some of the areas even expecting results of the panchayat pradhans (presidents). There were direct elections for the panchayat presidents, BDC members and Zila Parishad members in one third panchayats of the State.
The second and third phase of polling in villages will be held on 18th and 20th December and the urban local bodies would go to poll on 24th December.
The State Government had announced this time a grant of Rs. 10 lakh for the Panchayats who would elect their members unopposed. And in the process 304 panchayats in the State have been elected unanimously by the villagers.