UP panchayat polls, 2nd phase: Voting underway in Mathura amid heightened security

Mathura: The second phase of Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Elections is underway in Mathura in two blocks on Tuesday.

Security has been beefed up after violence marred the first phase polling of panchayat elections last week.

The two blocks have been divided into two super zones, six zones and 34 sectors. While, ADM-level officers would be incharge of the super zones, SDM-level officers would be zonal magistrates, District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said.

He said 29 FIRs have been lodged for violation of model code of conduct here.

"372 vehicle have also been challaned. 153 boxes of liquor and 22 vehicles have been seized while 13.7 kg of narcotics has been recovered," the district magistrate added.

Meanwhile, in Mat block 1,27,493 voters would decide the fate of 313 block development committee candidates for 84 seats, in Naujhil block 1,38,488 voters would decide the fate of 263 candidates for 92 seats.

Voters of both blocks will also decide the fate of 55 candidates who are contesting for seven seats of district Panchayat.

For the district Panchayat seats, former minister Shyam Sundar Sharma's wife and son are in the fray along with the son of District President Tulsi Ram Sharma and the wife of chairman of District Cooperative Bank Jagdish Nauhavar.

BJP MP Hema Malini and RLD general Ssecretary Jayant Chaudhary had both addressed several meetings in the area ahead of the polls. 

(With PTI inputs)