Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: Polling for Phase-II of Panchayat Polls will be held tomorrow at 2179 polling stations across the State, including 828 in Kashmir and 1351 in Jammu division. The timing for polling is from 8 am to 2 pm.
According to official sources, 4014 candidates are in the fray for 281 Sarpanch and 1286 Panch seats in Phase-II. He said 90 Sarpanchs and 1069 Panchs have already been elected unopposed in Phase-II.
Soruces said 601 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive including 490 in Kashmir division and 111 in Jammu.
They said in the areas going to polls in the Phase-II, electorate of 3,29,818 will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies and 2,07,796 for Panch constituencies. He said Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling station.
In the Phase-I of Panchayat Polls, 74.1% polling was recorded across J&K including 64.5% in Kashmir division and 79.4% in Jammu division.
Repoll was held for Ward No: 3 – Atholi-C of Panchayat Atholi, Block Padder, Kishtwar yesterday. Results have been announced for all these by the respective Returning Officers.
Repoll is also being held for Sarpanch constituency of Panchayat Nambla-B, Block Uri in district Baramulla and for Sarpanch Constituency of Panchayat Halqa Upper Sanai, Block Surankote in district Poonch. Also, in two Panch constituencies, namely PC-III & PC-IV of the Panchayat Halqa Hajitara, Block Teetwal of district Kupwara, the poll will be held after completion of the election process as per law.
Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) have been ensured in all the polling stations across the State. Photo Voter Slips were distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling stations, sources said.
Sources said senior Government officers have been appointed as General Observers to oversee the smooth, fair and orderly conduct of Panchayat Elections, 2018. 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.
Sources 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).
The Government has declared holiday on the day of poll in the Panchayat areas going to polls so as to enable the voters to cast their vote. Special casual leave will also be granted to the employees who have to go to other areas to exercise their right to franchise. As per standing guidelines, the Central Government offices will not be closed but the employees who are electors of the poll going wards and desire to exercise their franchise shall be offered reasonable facility to do so.
Chief Electoral Officer, J&K Shaleen Kabra has appealed the voters to come forward and exercise their right to franchise in order to choose their local self-government to address their local needs.
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