Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 7: Voting for eighth and final phase in Jammu region and penultimate phase in Kashmir will be held tomorrow across 331 Panchayats comprising 331 Sarpanch and 2007 Panch constituencies for which 6304 candidates are in the fray.
At the end of seven phases of polling across the State, an overall voting percentage of 73.8 has been recorded with Kashmir division accounting for 44.4 percent voting and Jammu division 83.2 percent.
As many as 43 Sarpanchs and 681 Panchs have been elected unopposed in eighth phase of polling, scheduled to be held tomorrow.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the process for Panchayat elections will conclude in entire Jammu region tomorrow and polling in ninth phase on December 11 will be confined to Kashmir region only.
The nine phase-polling will conclude on December 11.
Chief Electoral Officer, Shaleen Kabra said 2633 polling stations have been set up for tomorrow’s voting including 550 in Kashmir division and 2083 in Jammu division.
He said 361polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive in this Phase including 171 in Kashmir division and 190 in Jammu division.
An electorate of 5,15,121 will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies and 4,19,775 for Panch constituencies.
“Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling station,” Kabra said.
Kabra said in Phase-VI of Panchayat Polls held on December 1, overall poll percentage of 76.9 was witnessed across the State including 84.6 in Jammu division and 17.3 in Kashmir division.
He said in Phase-V which went to polls on November 29, the State witnessed a poll percentage of 71.1 including 33.7 in Kashmir division and 85.2 in Jammu division.
In Phase-IV, the State witnessed turnout of 71.3%, including 82.4% in Jammu division and 32.3% in Kashmir division. In Phase-III, the State had voting percentage of 75.2 which includes 55.7% in Kashmir division and 83.0% in Jammu division.
In the Phase-II of Panchayat Polls, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the State with 80.4% polling in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division.
Similarly, 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.
Kabra said results have been announced for all these Phases by the respective Returning Officers.
The CEO said orders have been passed in various complaint cases as well as directions of the Courts and wherever necessary Notifications, appointing the election schedules, have been issued. “All such orders/notifications are available at website of CEO J&K,” he said.
Kabra said Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) have been ensured in all the polling stations across the State for Phase-VIII. Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling stations.
He said senior Government officers have been appointed as General Observers to oversee the smooth, fair and orderly conduct of Panchayat Elections.
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.
The CEO 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 (CAPF).
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