Seventh phase of DDC polls in J&K over, 57.22% voting recorded

SRINAGAR: State Election Commissioner (SEC) K.K. Sharma on Wednesday said that the seventh phase of the DDC elections was over in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with 57.22 per cent voting recorded. He said that counting of votes for sarpanch and panch by-election segments in this seventh phase is being conducted by the authorities.

He told the media that Jammu division recorded an average voter turnout of 71.93%, with Poonch district recording the highest percentage of 80.12% followed by Reasi and Udhampur districts recording 76.75% and 75.63% voting respectively. The lowest turnout in Jammu division was in Doda district which recorded 58.82%.

While giving details of Kashmir Valley, Sharma said that there was average voter turnout of 39.52%, with Bandipora district recording the highest polling at 70.47% followed by Baramulla with 59.53% and Kupwara 59.23% polling. ZGiving district-wise details, the SEC informed that in Kashmir division the polling percentage recorded in Budgam was 45.11%, Ganderbal 53.69%, Anantnag 22.46%, Kulgam 17.98%, Pulwama 11.06% and Shopian 6.55%.

Similarly, in Jammu division poll percentage of 74.38% was recorded in Samba, 72.85% in Kathua, 67.75% in Ramban, 73.10% in Rajouri, 69.89 per cent in Kishtwar and 68.66% in Jammu district.

A total of 31 constituencies—13 seats from Kashmir division and 18 from Jammu division—went for polling in the seventh phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls, 438 panch and 69 sarpanch seats.

For Kashmir division election in the 13 DDC segments, there are 148 candidates in fray including 34 females. In Jammu division, there are 150 candidates in fray for the 18 DDC constituencies in this phase, including 38 females.

The SEC further informed that out of 117 sarpanch vacancies notified in the 7th phase, 30 have been elected unopposed. There shall be a contest in 69 constituencies and 231 candidates including 79 females are in fray. Similarly, he said that out of the total 1,270 panch vacancies notified in this phase, 416 elected unopposed.

Earlier, the SEC said that all the requisite arrangements for this phase are in place including manpower, election material and security arrangements in all poll going areas.

Referring to the arrangements in place in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the SEC said adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure safety of all stakeholders including the voters coming to vote at the polling stations. “Sanitizers, thermal scanners and face masks have been arranged at the polling stations to ensure that SOPs issued by the concerned authorities, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, are strictly followed at the polling stations,” he added.