Voting in the eight phase of the nine-phased panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir began on Saturday. As many as 6,304 candidates are in the fray for 331 sarpanch and 2,007 panch seats, while 43 sarpanch and 681 panch have been elected unopposed in this phase. Polling commenced at 2,633 polling stations across the state including 550 in Kashmir division and 2083 in Jammu division. Polling will end at 2 pm.
The officials said 361 polling stations have been categorised as "hypersensitive" in this phase, including 171 in Kashmir division and 190 in Jammu division. As many as 5,15,121 voters are eligible to vote for sarpanch constituencies and 4,19,775 for panch constituencies, the officials said.
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“All arrangements, including security-related, have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the polls,” officials said.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir, Shaleen Kabra, “Control Rooms have been established in all the districts across the State to respond promptly to any complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct as also to disseminate information to the public. Security arrangements have been made including the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).”
In the seventh phase of the panchayat polls, an impressive voter turnout of 75.3 per cent was recorded across the state. While a total of 84.8 per cent voters exercised their franchise in Jammu division, Kashmir registered an overall voter turnout of 30.3 per cent on Tuesday. The seventh phase of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat elections took place in as many as 30 blocks in 15 districts of the state. While 14 blocks of six districts in Jammu took part in the seventh phase of election, 16 blocks falling in nine districts of Kashmir valley casted their votes.
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