2nd phase of panchayat election tomorrow

PURNIA/KHAGARIA: Call it a case of empowerment of women, if you may. Veena Devi, the wife of outgoing mukhiya Rajendra Prasad Yadav, is pitted against 15 male candidates for the coveted post of mukhiya of Madhuban panchayat under Banmankhi block In Purnia district which goes to the polls on Sunday. Though an unreserved seat, the outgoing mukhiya, Rajendra Prasad Yadav, has opted out of contest, leaving the poll space for his wife, Veena Devi.The contest has all the ingredients of a potboiler, as the braveheart Veena Devi is taking on 15 male contestants including former mukhiyas Arbind Kumar alias Pampal Singh and Lilanand Sharma.
In all, 27 panchayats are bracing up for the poll heat in Banmankhi block, the only block in Purnia district going to the polls on Sunday, according to Purnia DPRO Bhupendra Singh.
In Katihar district, 28 panchayats spread over two blocks of Manihari and Amdabad will witness the dance of democracy on Sunday, district panchayat officer Chandrashekhar Jha said.
Sikti in Araria and Kochadhaman in Kishanganj districts are two blocks which will witness the battle of ballots on Sunday, for which the respective district administrations have made arrangements, DPRO YK Lal said.
In all, 93 panchayats from across five blocks in four districts of Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria will go to polls on Sunday.
Fourteen panchayats under Alouli and Khagaria blocks in Khagaria district will go to the polls in the second phase of panchayat elections scheduled for Sunday.
Khagaria DM Palka Sahni on Friday said that eight panchayats - Bahadurpur, Chhilkauri, Goriyama, Amba Echarua, Sumbha, Chandpura Khurd, Bandh Chatar and Dahma Khairi Khutha -under Alouli block and six panchayats - Barai, Rani Sakarpura, Bela Simri, Olapur Gangaur, Tetarabad and Jalkaura - under Khagaria block will go to the polls in the second phase of panchayat polls.