Srinagar: The third phase of Panchayat
elections began on Thursday in five blocks of the Kashmir Valley
with more than 2,500 candidates in the fray.
In central Kashmir`s Budgam district, votes are being
cast in Chadoora block to elect 299 Panchs and 40 Sarpanchs.
In this block, 690 candidates are in the fray for the polls.
In Chadoora, 42,719 electorates, including 20,676
female voters, will cast their votes to elect the grass root
level representatives, an official spokesman said.
Other blocks in the Valley where elections are being
held today include district Kupwara`s Sogam block where 448
candidates are in the contest, central Kashmir`s Ganderbal
with 412 candidates, Boniyar in north Kashmir`s Baramulla
district where 357 candidates are in the fray and south
Kashmir`s Kulgam where 629 candidates are fighting the
elections.
Official sources said that a total of 2,526 candidates
are in the fray for the third phase of the panchayat election.
The first leg of the 16-phase polls was held in eight
blocks of the state on April 13.
The elections for the fourth phase will be held on
April 25, fifth phase on April 30, sixth phase on May 4,
seventh phase on May 8, eighth phase on May 12, ninth phase on
May 16, tenth phase on May 21.
Last six phases will be held on May 25, May 29, June
2, June 6, June 11 and June 16.
Panchayat elections being held in the state after a
gap of ten years.
PTI
