For the first time in the last six phases of polling in panchayat polls, the turnout in the terror-plagued Kashmir valley has dropped below 20 per cent. However, the overall polling count was recorded at 76.9 per cent on Saturday.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra said a massive 84.6 per cent polling was witnessed in Jammu division and 17.3 per cent in the Kashmir division.
While Ganderbal district saw 41.5 per cent polling — the highest — in Kashmir division, Kulgam witnessed the lowest, at 4.6 per cent. Srinagar witnessed 12.5 per cent while Anantnag witnessed 7.3 per cent. Udhampur district in Jammu witnessed the higest turnout of 88.5 per cent while Doda district witnessed the lowest of 80.4 per cent.
Kabra said in the first phase of panchayat polls held on November 17, 74.1 per cent polling was recorded across J&K, including 64.5 per cent in Kashmir division and 79.4 per cent in Jammu division.
"In the second phase of the polls held on November 20, an overall 71.1 per cent polling was witnessed across the state with an overwhelming 80.4 per cent polling in Jammu division and 52.2 per cent in Kashmir division. In the third phase, the state witnessed a polling count of 75.2 per cent which includes 55.7 per cent in Kashmir division and 83.0 per cent in Jammu division", he said.
J&K witnessed 71.3 per cent voting in fourth phase with 82.4 per cent electors exercising their franchise in Jammu division and 32.3 per cent in Kashmir division.
"In the fifth phase of panchayat polls overall count of 71.1 per cent was witnessed across the State with 85.2 per cent polling in Jammu division and 33.7 per cent in Kashmir division", said Kabra.
Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam has complimented the civil and police administration for ensuring another phase of free, fair and peaceful polls to strengthen the democracy at the grassroots level. Panchayat elections, which are being held on the non-party basis, will be conducted in nine phases from November 17 to December 11 in all the 22 districts of the terror-plagued Jammu and Kashmir.
Both PDP and NC boycotted the Civic and Panchayat polls over the issue of Article 35 A. In their absence, People's Conference and BJP made hay in the civic polls. Congress too made some gains but failed to capitalise on the absence of the two major parties.