No election in 3 volatile south Kashmir districts under Phase VII
Shopian : No election was held under Phase VII of the nine-phased Panchayat elections in Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam as there were no contestants in fray.
In 17 Halqas of Shopian, there were 133 Panch seats under phase-VII. However, there were no candidates for the most of the seats while 3 sarpanch and 12 Panch seats were won unopposed.
In Hermain block scheduled to vote in the phase-VII, there were nine Halqas and 71 panch constituencies. 2 Sarpanch and 7 Panch candidates were elected unopposed while no nomination was received for 7 Sarpanch and 65 panch wards.
In Kaprin block, there are eight halqas and 62 panch constituencies, only one candidate and five Panch unopposed as there was no rival candidate in any Sarpanch or Panch.
No elections were held in Kellar, Shopian, Kanji Ullar and Ramnagri blocks during the third, fourth and fifth phases either.
Similar situation prevailed in Pulwama, another south Kashmir district with militant presence. In 16 Halqas, 144 wards were scheduled to vote. Only one candidate filed nominations for Sarpanch seat and was elected unopposed while 5 candidates were declared unopposed for Panch seats.
In another south Kashmir district of Kulgam, there were 12 Halqas with 84 wards scheduled to vote. However barring one Sarpanch and 5 Panch wards who won unopposed, there were no candidates for the seats and hence no election, officials told INS.
In most of the Halqas of both the districts and who so contestant contested are elected unopposed
