J&K: Over 50 per cent voter turnout recorded in third phase of DDC polls

Srinagar, Dec 04: 50.53 per cent polling was recorded in the third phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

Reasi district of Jammu region recorded 75.20 per cent voting, the highest in the union territory, State Election Commissioner (SEC) K K Sharma said, adding that 50.53 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the third phase of the maiden DDC polls in J-K.

The SEC said a large number of people came out to cast their votes in this phase.

Sharma further said Jammu division recorded an average voter turnout of 68.88 per cent, with Reasi district recording the highest percentage of 75.20 followed by Rajouri district with 72.81 per cent.

The lowest turnout in Jammu division was in Doda district, which recorded 59.51 per cent voting, he added.

The SEC said Kashmir division recorded an average turnout of 31.61 per cent with Kulgam district having recorded the highest polling, followed by Bandipora district with 56.73 per cent and Budgam with 50.18 per cent.

Giving district-wise details, the SEC said that in Kashmir division, Kupwara recorded 46.25 per cent polling, Baramulla 30.94 per cent, Ganderbal 24.69 per cent, Shopian 22.68 per cent, Anantnag 21.64 per cent, and Pulwama 10.87 per cent.

Similarly, in Jammu division, Poonch recorded 72.18 per cent voting followed by 70.44 per cent in Jammu, 70.35 per cent in Kishtwar, 70.15 per cent in Samba, 64.79 per cent in Ramban and 62.18 per cent in Kathua.

He said while the third phase of the DDC polls recorded 50.53 per cent polling, the second and the first phases recorded 49 and 52 per cent respectively.

Pulwama district of south Kashmir recorded the lowest polling at 10.87 per cent, he said.

The eight-phase DDC polls started on November 28 and is being held along with by-elections to panchayats.

In the third phase of the DDC polls, voting is being conducted in 33 constituencies -- 16 in the Kashmir division and 17 in the Jammu division. There are a total of 2,046 polling stations, including 792 in the Jammu division and 1,254 in the Kashmir division.

For this phase, as many as 7,37,648 electors are eligible to cast their votes and this includes 3,85,675 men and 3,51,973 women.

Polling is also being held for vacant panch and sarpanch constituencies as well. Out of the 126 constituencies, polling will take place in 66 constituencies and a total of 184 candidates are in the fray, officials said.

Forty sarpanch constituencies have been filled unopposed, they said.

Similarly, in panch by-elections, there are 1,738 constituencies, and out of them 798 have been elected unopposed.

Polling will take place in 327 constituencies and there are 749 candidates are in the fray.