Dead Candidate Wins Panchayat Election in Uttar Pradesh

Dead candidate Rangilal won the Panchayat polls in Dharmai vilage of Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh.

Election officials count votes of Uttar Pradesh Panchayat elections at a centre in Mirzapur on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)

Rangilal, a Panchayat election candidate who died three days before the polling on October 13, has been elected as a member of Ksetra Panchayat in Dharmai village in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.

The counting happened on Sunday and Rangilal won by a handsome margin of 582 votes.

First on the list, Rangilal won 643 votes whereas the second person won 61.

Rangilal who was one among the four candidates in fray for the Panchayat seat in Mujehna development block died three days before the October 13 polling, District Magistrate and Returning Officer Ajay Kumar Upadhaya said on Monday.

According to reports, after the death of Rangilal, the locals had demanded cancellation of the polling but as it was not done they polled in his favour to ensure his victory.

But since there is no provision of cancellation of voting in the event of death of a candidate in Panchayat elections, polling was held as per the schedule, Upadhaya said.

Guidelines have been sought from the State Election Commission in this regard, the Returning Officer said.

(With PTI inputs.)