'Panchayat polls have become challenge with entry of money, resources'

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Police chief Jagmohan Yadav today said that conducting peaceful panchayat polls has become a "big challenge" with the entry of money and resources into the local bodies, whose elections he said used to be only prestige issue earlier.

He said that recently concluded UP panchayat polls were held relatively peacefully.

"Gram panchayat polls were more difficult than Lok Sabha and Assembly polls as sometimes victory and defeat depend on the difference of one vote," Yadav told reporters here.

He said that due to village head polls, rivalry and clashes have become a challenge for law and order in the villages.

"When gram panchayats did not had so much fund and resources, then it used to be an issue of prestige. Now they have so much other works, besides development, you see what kind people are coming. In such circumstances conducting poll was a big challenge," he said.

The DGP also said that the series of violence would not stop even after panchayat polls are over.

"This will continue for long and by the time it ends, preparations for the next election will start," he said.

Yadav also said that all cases of pre and post poll violent incidents in Pratapgarh district were being probed and stern action would be taken against the guilty.