Rajasthan: First phase of panchayat polls begins

An estimated 20 per cent voter turn out was on Wednesday recorded during the first two hours of polling in the first phase of Panchyati Raj elections in Rajasthan to elect 390 members of Zila Parishad and 1,915 members of Panchayat Samiti.

Altogether 11,993 polling booths have been set up and around 1.12 crore electorates would exercise their franchise, an Election Commission spokesman said here.

The second and third phases of the polls would be held on January 29 and February 2 respectively.

There are total 1,013 members in 33 Zila Parishads (district level) and 5,273 members in 248 Panchayat Samitis.

Nearly 1.34 lakh police personnel have been deployed to conduct free and fair elections, the spokesman added.