Nine-phased J&K Panchayat Polls 2018 records overall 74% polling

JAMMU/ SRINAGAR: The nine-phased Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Polls 2018 concluded on December 11, 2018, recorded overall 74.0 per cent polling.

The first phase of elections saw a total of 74.1 per cent polling. Udhampur district of Jammu division recorded the highest polling percentage of 83.6 per cent. It was followed by Doda district with 80.8 per cent. Kupwara district had the highest voter turnout of 79.1 per cent in Kashmir division. It was followed by Kargil with 70.9 per cent polling.

The third and the fourth phase witnessed 75.3 and 71.3 per cent polling respectively.

The fifth phase recorded 71.1 per cent polling wherein the Kashmir division recorded 33.7 per cent polling and the Jammu division recorded 85.2 per cent polling.

The sixth phase recorded the highest polling percentage of76.9 per cent. In this phase, the Jammu division recorded 84.6 per cent polling and the Kashmir Division recorded17.3 per cent polling.

The seventh phase held on December 4, recorded overall 75.3 per cent voter turnout. Whereas, the Eighth phase held on December 8, recorded overall 79.9 per cent voter turnout.

The final phase recorded 38.8 per cent voter turnout. Polling in this phase took place for 55 sarpanch and 138 panch seats. 68 Sarpanch and 433 Panch were elected unopposed. Total 452 polling stations were set up in this phase. 346 out of these were categorized as Hypersensitive. Basic minimum facilities were ensured in all polling stations. Security arrangements were made includingthe deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).Kupwara district recorded highest votingpercentage of 53.6 per cent followed by Bandipora with 46 per cent voting,Baramulla 38.9 per cent, Budgam 38.8 per cent, Anantnag 24.8 per cent,Ganderbal 20.9 per cent and Pulwama 1.4 per cent.