Panchayat polls: J&K records 79.9% voting in phase 8
JAMMU/SRINAGAR :In phase 8 of the nine-phased panchayat elections held across 15 districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, an overall poll percentage of 79.9% was witnessed across the state.
According to chief electoral officer, Shaleen Kabra, a massive 85.1% polling was witnessed in Jammu division and 49.6% in Kashmir division, in phase 8, which passed off peacefully.
Giving district-wise details, Kabra said Kupwara witnessed 53.8% polling in phase 8, Bandipora 18%, Baramulla 56.9%, Srinagar 11.6%, Budgam 9.1%, Reasi 89.8%, Kathua 84%, Samba 84%, Jammu 84.8% and Rajouri 82.4%.
The voting in the eight phase began at 8 am at 2,633 polling stations - 550 in Kashmir division and 2,083 in Jammu division and ended peacefully at 2pm.
The highest 89.8% was recorded in Reasi district of Jammu region, while the lowest 9.1 per cent was registered in Budgam district of central Kashmir, Kabra said.
He said 6,304 candidates were in the fray for 331 sarpanch and 2,007 panch seats in this phase, while 43 sarpanchs and 681 panchs have been elected unopposed. There were no incidents of violence during phase 8, however, strike was observed in the poll bound areas of Kashmir on the call of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL).
Kabra said in phase 1 of panchayat polls held on November 17, 74.1% polling was recorded across J&K including 64.5% in Kashmir division and 79.4% in Jammu division.
In phase 2 of the elections on November 20, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the state with 80.4% polling in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division. In phase-3, 75.2% polling was witnessed including 55.7% in Kashmir division and 83.0% in Jammu division and in phase-4, the state witnessed 71.3% polling with 82.4% in Jammu division and 32.3% in Kashmir division.
An overall poll percentage of 71.1% was witnessed across the state in phase 5, with 85.2% polling in Jammu division and 33.7% in Kashmir division.
In phase 6, 76.9% polling was recorded across the state, including 17.3% in Kashmir division and 84.6% in Jammu division.
In phase 7, an overall poll percentage of 75.3% was witnessed with 84.8% in Jammu division and 30.3% in Kashmir division.
At the end of seven phases of the panchayat polls, an overall voter turnout of 73.8 per cent has been recorded across the state, with a poll percentage of 44.4 per cent in Kashmir division and 83.2 per cent in Jammu division.
The nine-phased elections in the state started on November 17 and the last phase of the polls will be held on December 11.