49.6% voting in penultimate phase of Panchayat elections in Kashmir
Srinagar: 49.6 percent turnout was recorded for the penultimate phase of the nine-phased Panchayat polls in Kashmir. Jammu division recorded 85.1% voting while state recorded overall 79.9 perecnt polling.
Polling began at 8 am at 2,633 polling stations – 550 in Kashmir division and 2083 in Jammu division, officials said.
District Baramulla witnessed highest polling of 56.9% voting followed by Kupwara (53.8%), Bandipora (18%), Srinagar (11.6%) and Budgam witnessed 9.1% turnout.
In Jammu, Reasi recorded 89.8%, Kathua 84%, Samba 84%, Jammu 84.8% and Rajouri 82.4%.
In the Phase-II of Panchayat Polls held on 20 November 2018, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the State with an 80.4% polling in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division.
Officials said in Phase-III, the State witnessed a poll percentage of 75.2% including 55.7% in Kashmir division and 83.0% in Jammu division.
In Phase-IV, officials said, JK witnessed 71.3% voting with 82.4% electors exercising their franchise in Jammu division and 32.3% in Kashmir division.
In the Phase-V of Panchayat Polls overall poll percentage of 71.1% was witnessed across the State with 85.2% polling in Jammu division and 33.7% in Kashmir division.
In the Phase-VI of Panchayat Polls overall poll percentage of 76.9% was recorded across J&K including 17.3% in Kashmir division and 84.6% in Jammu division.
In the Phase-VII of Panchayat Pollsoverall poll percentage of 75.3% was witnessed across the State with 84.8% in Jammu division and 30.3% in Kashmir division.
They said 361 polling stations were categorized as hypersensitive with 171 in Kashmir division and 190 in Jammu division.
The officials said 6,304 candidates were in the fray for 331 Sarpanch and 2007 Panch seats in the penultimate phase, while 43 Sarpanchs and 681 Panchs were elected unopposed.
An electorate of 515121 were eligible to cast vote for Sarpanch constituencies and 419775 for Panch constituencies, they said.
