Srinagar
The voting for the fifth phase of Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir at 2512 polling stations across the state, including 769 in Kashmir division and 1743 in Jammu division has started at 8:00, this morning, and will end up at 2:00 pm.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shaleen Kabra, 848 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive including 755 in Kashmir division and 93 in Jammu division.
He said 4763 candidates are in the fray for 309 Sarpanch and 1534 Panch seats in Phase-V while 118 Sarpanchs and 1046 Panchs have been elected unopposed in this Phase.
He said 404,283 electors will be voting in the sarpanch constituencies and 270,295 for panch constituencies.
“Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling station,” he said.
Kabra said in the Phase-I of Panchayat Polls held on 17 November 2018, 74.1% polling was recorded across J&K including 64.5% in Kashmir division and 79.4% in Jammu division. In the Phase-II of Panchayat Polls held on 20 November 2018, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the State with an overwhelming 80.4% polling in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division.
He said in Phase-III, the State witnessed a polling percentage of 75.2% which includes 55.7% in Kashmir division and 83.0% in Jammu division.
Similarly, in Phase-IV, he said, the state witnessed an overall polling percentage of 71.3%, including 82.4% in Jammu division and 32.3% in Kashmir division.
He said the Government has declared a holiday on the day of poll in the panchayat areas going to polls so as to enable the voters to cast their vote.
