Panchayat polls enter crucial phase
1068 candidates declared elected unopposed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 26: Panchayat elections will enter crucial parts of four South Kashmir districts and cover Jammu district for the first time during fourth phase of polling tomorrow in which 1068 candidates, majority of them in the Valley especially militancy-infested South Kashmir have already been elected unopposed.
“Panchayat elections will start in Jammu district tomorrow in the fourth phase and will be completed in next five phases i.e. up to eighth phase,” official sources told the Excelsior.
Four South Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, where majority of candidates had been elected unopposed or many Wards went uncontested in the Urban Local Bodies elections, will also have voting in tomorrow’s Panchayat elections though one phase of polling has already been held in Anantnag and Shopian districts.
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However, sources said, this will be for the first time when polling will be held in four districts of South Kashmir in a single phase tomorrow.
Sources said massive security arrangements have been made for all eight districts of Kashmir, which will go to votes tomorrow including four districts of South Kashmir. Additional companies of para-military, Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police have been deployed.
Though Jammu district is peaceful, authorities have deployed CRPF and JKP in full strength in all polling stations to ensure that there was no law and order problem during the polling, followed by counting.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Romesh Kumar told the Excelsior that five blocks of Jammu district will go to polls tomorrow, which included Bhalwal Brahmana, Khour, Samwan, Khara Bali and Pargwal. They comprised 50 Panchayats including 50 Sarpanch and 398 Panch segments, he added.
This will also be first time in the fourth phase that 17 districts out of a total of 22 will go to polls in single phase tomorrow. Previous three phases were confined to 14 and 15 districts only.
Eight out of 10 districts of Kashmir, which will have voting tomorrow, included Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian while both districts of Ladakh region-Leh and Kargil will also have polling.
Seven districts of Jammu going to votes in fourth phase are Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri.
The Election Authority has set up 2618 polling stations across the State including 639 in Kashmir division and 1979 in Jammu region for tomorrow’s polling.
According to Chief Electoral Officer, Shaleen Kabra, 777 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive including 571 in Kashmir division and 206 in Jammu.
He said 5470 candidates are in fray for 339 Sarpanch and 1749 Panch seats while 99 Sarpanchs and 969 Panchs have been elected unopposed.
Sources said 4,72,160 electorates are eligible for voting for Sarpanch constituencies and 3,32,502 for Panch constituencies tomorrow.
“Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling station,” they said.
Sources said in the Phase-I of Panchayat Polls held on November 17, 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 on November 20, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the State with an overwhelming 80.4% polling in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division.
In the Phase-III, the State witnessed a polling percentage of 75.2% which includes 55.7% in Kashmir division and 83.0% in Jammu division. Results have been announced for all these phases by the respective Returning Officers except some of the constituencies of Block Mughal Maidan, Kishtwar due to the re-poll ordered at Panch Constituency-1 Hirkhani of Panchayat Halqa Drubeel and Sarpanch Constituency of Panchayat Halqa Rahalthal. The re-poll shall be held along with in the 4th phase.
Sources said the orders have been passed in various complaint cases as well as directions of the Courts and wherever necessary Notifications reappointing the election schedules have been issued.
“All such orders/notifications are available at website of CEO J&K,” they said.
Sources said Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) have been ensured in all the polling stations across the State for Phase-IV.
They said senior Government officers have been appointed as General Observers to oversee the smooth, fair and orderly conduct of Panchayat Elections, 2018. Also, Expenditure Observers are keeping a watch on the expenditure by the candidates. In addition, for the poll day, Micro Observers have been placed in polling stations, particularly those considered hypersensitive. Besides, the Zonal and Sector Magistrates too have been deployed.
Sources said Control Rooms have been established in all the districts across the State to respond promptly to any complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct as also to disseminate information to the public. Security arrangements have been made including deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
They said the Government has declared holiday on the day of poll in the Panchayat areas going to polls so as to enable the voters to cast their vote. Special casual leave will also be granted to the employees who have to go to other areas to exercise their right to franchise. As per standing guidelines, the Central Government offices will not be closed but the employees who are electors of the poll going wards and desire to exercise their franchise will be offered reasonable facility to do so.
The Chief Electoral Officer, J&K appealed the voters to come forward and exercise their right to franchise in order to choose their local self-Government to address their local needs.
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