UP panchayat polls: Post opposition digs, BJP cancels big meetings

A senior BJP leader said the party leadership decided not to go ahead with its previous plan of holding big meetings at the ward level after frequent attacks by the opposition parties

New Delhi: Voting for the first of the four-phase Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections, seen as a 'semi-final' to the 2022 Assembly elections, began in 18 districts with ballot papers on Thursday.

Meanwhile, amid the massive surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, the BJP has cancelled the programmes of big leaders in the state.

A BJP leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the party leadership decided not to go ahead with its previous plan of holding big meetings at the ward level considering the surge in COVID-19 cases.

"In view of the increasing cases of Covid-19 and the frequent attacks by the opposition parties on BJP rallies in West Bengal, the party has now cancelled its plan. We have decided to conduct door-to-door campaigns," the leader said.

"Candidates have been told to take all precautions and follow all social distancing norms while campaigning," he added.

The party had earlier organised chaupals in 50,000 villages of the state and was reaching out to voters at the booth level for the panchayat elections.

In view of the coronavirus situation, the State Election Commission had in March said not more than five people would be allowed to accompany a candidate during door-to-door campaigning for the panchayat elections.

The voting for the second phase will be on April 19, the third on April 26 and the fourth phase on April 29. The votes will be counted on May 2.