J&K DDC polls: Voting underway, Mehbooba Mufti says armed forces used to rig election

A health worker provides hand sanitiser to people waiting in a queue to cast their votes during the fourth phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections, in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir (PTI)

With voting underway for the fifth phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the armed forces were being used to rig the elections to “favour a particular party”. In a tweet, Mufti said, “Security forces have cordoned Matribugh in Shopian & are not allowing people to come out to vote under the pretext of inputs about presence of militants. In a brazen display of power, armed forces are being used to rig this election & favour a particular party .”

The polling began at 7 am. According to the figures provided by the State Election Commission, a total of 26.54% voter turnout was recorded across different constituencies till 11 am today.

In Kashmir Division, Pulwama has recorded a voting percentage of 4.83%, Baramulla 23.31%, Kulgam 15.19%, Shopian 1.98%, Anantnag 9.88%, Bandipora 32.22%, Ganderbal 17.21%, Kupwara 19.74% and Budgam 25.42% till 11:00 am.

Similarly, in Jammu division, Kishtwar has recorded voting percentage of 35.21%, Udhampur 27.13%, Jammu 33.64%, Kathua 33.72%, Ramban 34.95%, Doda 35.23%, Samba 40.41%, Poonch 36.23%, Rajouri 44.54% and Reasi 33.56% till 11:00 am.

The Kashmir Division recorded an overall polling percentage of 16.22% while Jammu Division recorded 35.59% upto 11:00 am.

In the 5th Phase of DDC elections, voting is being held in 37 DDC constituencies, 17 from Kashmir division and 20 from Jammu division.

A total of 155 candidates, including 30 females, are in the fray for 17 DDC constituencies in the Kashmir division. In the Jammu division, 144 candidates, including 40 females, are in the fray for 20 constituencies. Polling is also being held for panch and sarpanch vacancies notified in the fifth phase.

In this phase, 8,27,519 electors, including 4,33,285 males and 3,94,234 females, are eligible to cast their votes. As many as 2,104 polling stations have been setup across the union territory — 914 in the Jammu division and 1,190 in the Kashmir division. Of these polling stations, 1,193 are hypersensitive, 472 are sensitive and 439 have been categorised as normal.

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