Barring Mendhar clash, polling peaceful
Sanjeev Pargal/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/Srinagar, Dec 1: Jammu and Kashmir recorded 76.9 percent turnout, the highest ever in six phases of Panchayat elections today, beating previous highest figure of 75.2 percent registered during third phase of polling as the process of voting and counting in all 406 Panchayats in 16 districts of the State including nine in Jammu region and seven in Kashmir concluded peacefully barring attack on a youth in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district by the rival group in which he was seriously injured.
Turnout
Districts FINAL % age
bandipora 35.3%
baramulla 12.1%
ganderbal 41.5%
srinagar 12.5%
budgam 9.0%
kulgam 4.6%
Anantnag 7.3%
Doda 80.4%
ramban 81.5%
udhampur 88.5%
reasi 85.6%
kathua 84.0%
samba 84.7%
jammu 87.1%
rajouri 83.6%
poonch 81.8%
J&K 76.9%
KASHMIR DIV 17.3%
JAMMU DIV 84.6%
Voting has already concluded in Ladakh region comprising two districts of Leh and Kargil and Kishtwar district of Jammu region. All other nine districts of Jammu were involved in today’s sixth phase of voting for Panchayat elections.
While overall turnout today was highest so far at 76.9 percent, it was lowest ever in Kashmir region at 17.3 percent, official sources told the Excelsior and said today’s turnout of 84.6 percent in Jammu was the second highest behind 85.2 percent of the fifth phase.
Significantly, all nine districts of Jammu region that went to polls today, registered above 80 percent polling. In Kashmir, however, the highest poll percentage of 41.5 was witnessed in Ganderbal district.
This was for the first time that voting was held together in the Panchayat Halqas of 16 districts.
In Jammu region, Udhampur district recorded highest voting percentage of 88.5 followed by 87.1 in Jammu district and 85.6 in Reasi district. Polling percentage in other districts of Jammu region stood as Doda (80.4), Ramban (81.5), Kathua (84), Samba (84.7), Rajouri (83.6) and Poonch (81.8), Chief Electoral Officer, Shaleen Kabra said.
In Kashmir, Kabra said, after Ganderbal’s 41.5 percent voting, Bandipora district also recorded reasonably good turnout of 35.3 percent. Voting percentage in other districts of Kashmir was Baramulla (12.1), Srinagar (12.5), Budgam, (9), Kulgam (4.6) and Anantnag (7.3).
Overall voting percentage in all six out of nine phases of Panchayat elections held so far, has been above 70 with today’s turnout of 76.9 being the highest in all phases. In first phase, overall turnout was 74.1 percent, which came down to 71.1 percent in second phase but again rose to 75.2 percent in third phase. It was down to 71.3 percent in fourth phase and 71.1 percent in fifth phase.
Today’s voting percentage of 17.3 was, however, lowest in the Kashmir division in all six phases held so far.
Voting percentage in Kashmir division was 64.5 in first phase, 52.2 in second phase, 55.7 in third, 32.3 in fourth and 33.7 in fifth phase.
Jammu region had, however, registered highest polling turnout of 85.2 percent in fifth phase, which slightly came down to 84.6 percent in today’s sixth phase. Turnout in Jammu was 79.4 in first phase, 80.4 in second, 83 in third and 82.4 percent in fourth phase.
In today’s phase, 7156 candidates were in the fray for 406 Panchayats including 406 Sarpanch and 2277 Panch constituencies for whom the Election Authority had set up 3174 polling stations including 410 in Kashmir division and 2764 in Jammu region.
Already, 111 Sarpanchs and 1048 Panchs had been declared elected as unopposed in today’s phase.
Sources said counting which was taken up in majority of Sarpanch and Panch segments that went to polls today had been completed by midnight tonight and barring few, all results had been declared.
In Kasblari area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district, a youth was seriously injured when he was hit by the rival party during counting of votes this afternoon. Injured has been identified as Jehangir Ahmad. He received serious injury and was shifted to Sub District Hospital in Mendhar from where he was referred to District Hospital in critical condition.
Police have registered a case for further investigations.
The scuffle took place during counting of the voting, sources said.
Polling in rest of the Panchayats remained peaceful barring verbal duels.
However, in Amb area of Gharota in Jammu district, people held a protest alleging irregularities in the counting for Sarpanch constituency.
Polling for the 6th phase of Panchayat polls ended peacefully today in Kashmir under tight security vigil and freezing cold.
Voters were seen queuing outside polling stations in Kupwara and Ganderbal districts of Central and North Kashmir despite the morning chill. But in Kulgam district of South Kashmir where polling was held in Devsar block, the polling stations presented a deserted look as majority of the people stayed away from polls.
In a repoll held in Kupwara district, 81.9 per cent votes were cast.
In Aagun and Akhal Devsar villages, the polling stations were mostly deserted as majority of the people stayed away from polls. Only few came out to caste their votes.
In Walivar village of Ganderbal despite cold weather conditions, large number of people came out to vote. People were waiting in queues since morning.
Aijaz Ahmad, a voter said that they are voting to elect the Panchayat for the betterment of the village. “We will choose our representatives who will work for the development of the village”, he said.
Voting for this phase was held at 410 polling stations in Kashmir which were kept in hypersensitive category due to security concerns.
According to Chief Electoral Officer, Shaleen Kabra, 771 polling stations had been categorized as hypersensitive including 410 in Kashmir division and 361 in Jammu region in today’s election.
He said a total of 5,97,396 electorates were eligible to exercise their right to franchise for Sarpanch constituencies and 4,57,581for Panch segments.
The Election Authority had appointed senior Government officers as General Observers to oversee the smooth, fair and orderly conduct of Panchayat elections. Also, Expenditure Observers kept a watch on expenditure by the candidates. In addition, Micro Observers were placed in polling stations, particularly those considered hypersensitive. Besides, the Zonal and Sector Magistrates were also stationed.
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