Sixth phase of Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls underway

Jammu: The polling for the sixth phase of Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir is currently underway at 3174 polling stations including 410 in Kashmir division and 2764 in Jammu division. 

The voting began at 8 am and will continue till 2 pm. 

A total of 7,156 candidates are in the fray for 406 sarpanch positions and 2,277 panch seats in this phase. According to J&K Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra, 111 sarpanchs and 1,048 panchs have already been elected unopposed. There are 5,97,396 registered voters in sarpanch constituencies and 4,57,581 in panch constituencies going to polls in the sixth phase, he added.

A total of 771 polling stations have been categorised as hyper-sensitive. Out of these, 410 are in Kashmir division and the rest in Jammu division.

"Photo voter slips have been distributed among voters to inform them of their polling station," he said.

The first phase-I of the Panchayat polls on November 17 witnessed 74.1 per cent voter turnout. In phase 2 on November 20, the overall polling percentage was 71.1. The third and fourth phases witnessed 71.3 per cent and 75.2 per cent polling respectively. Phase-5 polling on November 29 saw 71.1 per cent voter turnout. 

Kabra said micro observers have been placed at polling stations, particularly those considered hyper-sensitive. Besides the zonal and sector magistrates too have been deployed, he added.

The CEO said the government has declared holiday on Saturday in the areas going to polls.

He said special casual leave will be granted to government employees who have to go to other areas to vote. 

With agency inputs