Thane: Around 80% voters cast their votes in elections for 143 gram panchayats

KALYAN: Polling in 143 gram panchayats, out of total 158 gram panchayats of Thane district took place on Friday. The polling started from 7.30am and ended at 5.30 pm peacefully with only some minor disputes on few seats.
Till 5.30 pm around 80% voters cast their votes out of total 3,04,962 voters. The counting will take place on January 18.
The voting in 15 Gram Panchayats out of 158 did not take as the candidates there had already won unopposed.
There are total 1,472 seats in this election from where 4,353 candidates were in fray. A total of 349 candidates have been elected unopposed already.
The election was held in five talukas of Thane district out of which Bhiwandi Taluka has maximum 56 gram panchayats, Thane Taluka has 5 gram panchayats, Kalyan Taluka has 21 gram panchayats, Ambernath Taluka has 27, Shahapur Taluka has 5 and Murbad taluka has 44 gram Panchayats.
The gram panchayat election took place first time after Covid-19 cases has brought under some control in state.
Though these polls do not take place on party symbols, all political parties have put in efforts that the candidate supported by them wins to have hold on grass root level, which will be advantageous for them in future during Zilla Parishad and even assembly elections.