Third phase of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Polls 2018 underway

SRINAGAR: The third phase of Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections is currently underway at polling stations across the state. The voting began at 8 am and will continue till 2 pm. The elections will be held in 918 Kashmir division and 1855 Jammu division.

Here are the live updates: 

* Voter turnout till 10 am for the third phase of #JammuAndKashmir panchayat elections. pic.twitter.com/veZYrsEu9S

* Voting is underway for the third phase of Panchayat elections in #JammuAndKashmir. Visuals from a polling station in Kupwara's Chowkibal village. pic.twitter.com/aedqcP9N1u

* The officials said 727 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive, including 493 in Kashmir division and 234 in Jammu division, for the third phase. They said 5,239 candidates are in the fray for 358 sarpanch and 1,652 panch seats. Ninety six sarpanchs and 1,437 panchs have been elected unopposed in this phase, they added.

* #JammuAndKashmir: Voting is underway for the third phase of Panchayat elections in the state. Visuals from a polling station in Udhampur. pic.twitter.com/iT0OniVwIW

The officials said an electorate of 4,23,592 are eligible for voting for sarpanch constituencies while 2,70,668 for panch constituencies. They said all arrangements, including security related, have been put in place for smooth conduct of the polls.

The nine-phased elections, being conducted on the non-party basis, began on November 17. "In the Phase-II of Panchayat polls held, overall 71.1 per cent polling was witnessed across the state. An overwhelming 80.4 per cent polling was witnessed in Jammu division and 52.2 per cent in Kashmir division," state Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra said.

The first phase of panchayat polls was held on November 17. About 74.1 per cent polling was recorded across the state, with 64.5 per cent in Kashmir division and 79.5 per cent in Jammu division.