Srinagar: As the voting for Block Development Council (BDC) polls on 310 blocks in Jammu and Kashmir began on Thursday, 98.3 poll percentage have been recorded in first ever BDC polling in a day.
The BDC elections were taking place for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir after the revocation of its special status given under Article 370 in August. In the polls, 1,065 candidates are in the fray across 310 blocks.
Bilal Bahadur
Despite the three main regional parties of J&K Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boycotting the BDC elections, the highest number of 101 candidates filed nominations from Kupwara district, followed by nearby Baramulla (90), Jammu (82), Rajouri (76), Doda (74), Kathua (72) Udhampur and Budgam (58), Anantnag (55), Kishtwar (44), Ramban (43) and Reasi (39), news agency ANI reported
While Leh and Kargil districts together accounted for 36 and 38 candidates, respectively, Shopian district in south Kashmir has the lowest number of only four candidates.
In total there are 26,629 electors, of which 8,313 are females and 18,316 male for all 316 blocks across the 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said, adding that the ballot boxes will be used during the polls as the election shall be held through a secret ballot, the report mentioned.
