Srinagar/Jammu, Dec 7 (UNI) Over 50 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in 34 constituencies on Monday during the fourth phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.



Poonch recorded the highest voter turnout of 75.42 per cent while the lowest votes – 1.96 per cent – polling was recorded in Shopian, where stones were pelted at the convoy of the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian.



An official spokesperson said Kashmir Division recorded an overall polling percentage of 31.95 per cent while Jammu Division recorded 69.31 per cent in the fourth phase.



He said that Kupwara has recorded voting percentage of 44.35 per cent, Bandipora 45.22 per cent, Baramulla 47.43 per cent, Ganderbal 56.28 per cent, Budgam 38.04 per cent, Pulwama 6.70 per cent and Anantnag 27.04 per cent.



Similarly, he said in Jammu division, Kishtwar has recorded voting percentage of 70.32 per cent, Doda 75.03 per cent, Ramban 67.39 per cent, Reasi 62.67 per cent, Kathua 61.23 per cent, Jammu 71.80 per cent, Rajouri 71.22 per cent and Samba 71.22 per cent .



He said in the fourth Phase, election was held in 34 DDC constituencies, including 17 each from Jammu division and Kashmir division. “Along with this, by polls to 50 vacant Sarpanch seats and 216 vacant Panch seats falling within these DDC constituencies was also held in this phase,” he said.



“There were 138 candidates, including 48 females, in fray for the 17 DDC constituencies of Kashmir division. In Jammu division, there were 111 candidates in fray for the 17 DDC constituencies in this phase, including 34 females,” he said.



“There were 123 Sarpanch vacancies notified in the fourth phase and out of these 45 have got filled unopposed. Voting was held in 50 constituencies and 137 candidates including 47 females are in fray,” he said.



Similarly, he said out of the total 1207 Panch vacancies notified in this phase, 416 have got filled unopposed and there is no contest in these constituencies. “Polling was held in 216 panch constituencies and there are 478 candidates in fray including 129 females,” he said.



He said in the fourth phase, 717322 electors were eligible to cast their votes, including 376797 males and 340525 females. Amongst these 350149 were from Jammu division and 367173 from Kashmir division.



“There were 1910 polling stations setup across the UT for this phase out of which 781 are in Jammu division and 1129 are in Kashmir division. Out of these 1910 polling stations, polling is underway for Sarpanch vacancies in 212 polling stations and Panch vacancies in 219 polling stations, along with the DDC polls. Out of the 1910 polling stations 1152 are Hyper sensitive, 349 are sensitive and 409 have been categorized as normal,” he added.



Polling for this phase started from 0700 hrs and ended at 1400 hrs. “In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure safety of all stake holders including the voters coming to vote at the polling stations. Sanitizers, thermal scanners and face masks have been arranged at the polling stations to ensure that SOPs issued by the concerned authorities, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, are strictly followed at the polling stations,” he said.



He said special Polling Stations at Women College Gandhinagar, Jammu and Girls Higher Secondary School Udhampur have been set up to facilitate physical voting by Kashmiri Migrants.

UNI ABS JW1950