85 Sarpanchs, 912 Panchs elected unopposed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 3: Polling for seventh phase of Panchayat elections will be held tomorrow covering 341 Panchayats including 341 Sarpanch and 1798 Panch constituencies across the State for which elaborate security arrangements have been made by the authorities in 2714 polling stations including 576 in Kashmir division and 2138 in Jammu.
As many as 5575 candidates are trying their luck in the seventh phase of Panchayat polls for 341 Sarpanch and 1798 Panch seats while 85 Sarpanchs and 912 Panchs have already been declared elected as unopposed.
Chief Electoral Officer, Shaleen Kabra said 892 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive in tomorrow’s polling including 428 in Kashmir and 464 in Jammu.
He said in the areas going to polls in Phase-VII, an electorate of 4,75,865 will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies and 3,45,880 for Panch segments.
He added that Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling stations.
The CEO said that at the end of six phases of Panchayat Polls, overall voter turnout of 73.6% has been recorded across the State, with a poll percentage of 46.1% in the Kashmir division and 82.8% in the Jammu division.
In the 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 region.
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 recorded a poll percentage of 71.3 including 82.4 in Jammu division and 32.3 in Kashmir region. In Phase-III, the State had registered a poll percentage of 75.2 which includes 55.7 in Kashmir division and 83 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 region.
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 region 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 reappointing 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-VII.
He said senior Government officers have been appointed as General Observers to oversee the smooth, fair and orderly conduct of the 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 Chief Electoral Officer 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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