Voting for sixth phase today

As many as 7,156 candidates are in the fray for 406 the posts of sarpanch and 2,277 panch. Over 770 polling stations in Kashmir and Jammu divisions have been declared hypersensitive. SHALEEN KABRA, chief electoral officer, J&K

JAMMU: Polling for the sixth phase of the nine-phased panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Saturday at 3,174 polling stations including 410 in Kashmir division and 2,764 in Jammu division. Voting will take place from 8 am to 2 pm.

According to chief electoral officer Shaleen Kabra, 771 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive including 410 in Kashmir division and 361 in Jammu division.

Kabra said 7,156 candidates are in fray for 406 sarpanch and 2,277 panch seats in Phase-vi, while 111 sarpanchs and 1,048 Panchs have been elected unopposed in this phase.

He said in the areas going to polls in Phase-vi, electorate of 5,97,396 will vote for sarpanch constituencies and 4,57,581 for panch constituencies.

“Photo voter slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them about their polling station,” he said. Kabra said in the fifth phase of panchayat polls held on November 29, 71.1% polling was recorded including 33.7% in Kashmir division and 85.2% in Jammu division.

In Phase-4, the state witnessed a polling percentage of 71.3%, inn Phase 3, 75.2% voter turnout was recorded. In the second phase an overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the state.

Similarly, in the first phase, 74.1% polling was recorded across J&K. The results were announced for these phases by the respective Returning Officers. Security arrangements have been made including deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

Kabra said the government has declared a holiday on the day of polling in the panchayat areas so as to enable the voters to cast their vote. A special casual leave will also be granted to the employees who have to go to other areas to exercise their right to franchise. As per standing guidelines, the Central government offices will not be closed but the employees who are electors of the poll going wards and desire to exercise their franchise shall be offered reasonable facility to do so.