‘No law and order issue reported from anywhere during the polls in J&K as the elections went peacefully; SEC’
Gowhar Nazir
Srinagar, Dec 17: At the end of 7th phase of DDC elections in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, the State Election Commissioner (SEC) K K Sharma said that phase-7 of District Development Council (DDC) polls recorded a massive turn out of over 57 percent.
While addressing the media, Sharma said, “It was a day of massive turn out and indeed a matter of satisfaction,” adding, “J&K today recorded 57. 22 percent voting which is the highest since the beginning of DDC polls in the region.”
During the 7th phase of DDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir records the highest polling percentage in one of its district, Bandipora at 70.47 percent and in Jammu, Ponch recorded the highest voting turnout at 80.12 percent voting.
He said that Kashmir witnessed 39.2 percent voting while in Jammu, total voting percentage remained at 71.93 percent, which is highest so far in the seven phases. The total, 394,200 voters participated in the voting exercise. “It is a matter of satisfaction that a lot of eligible electors came out to cast their votes,” Sharma added.
“The Kashmir Division recorded 39.52 percent average voter turnout with Bandipora district recording the highest polling at 70.47 percent followed by Baramulla with 59.53% and Kupwara district recorded 59.23 percent polling,” said State Election Commissioner (SEC) K K Sharma.
While providing the district wise details, the SEC informed that in Kashmir Division the polling percentage recorded in Budgam was 45.11 percent, Ganderbal 53.69 percent, Anantnag 22.46, Kulgam 17.98 percent, Pulwama 11.06 percent and 6.55 percent polling was registered in Shopian.
“In Jammu division poll percentage of 74.38 percent was recorded in Samba, 72.85 in Kathua, 67.75 percent in Ramban, 73.10 percent in Rajouri, 69.89 per cent in Kishtwar and 68.66 percent in Jammu district,” Sharma said.
He further said that 393200 (210479 male and 182721 female votes) people exercised their right to franchise for the seventh phase across the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
Because of the huge polling, there were lot of activities all around, the SEC said. “Our sector magistrate and observers took note of small complaints and in two cases inquiries have been ordered. If there would be a need to go for re-poll, we will be doing that once the inquiry is completed,” he said.
In Poonch, at a polling station located at Galian, where a masked man was seen allegedly tampering with the ballot, about which a video is viral on social media. “An inquiry has been ordered and investigations are going on,” he said.
The SEC said no law and order issue reported from anywhere during the polls in J&K as the elections went peacefully.
Furthermore, he said that counting of votes for sarpanch and panch constituencies, which went to the polls in the seventh phase, is being conducted immediately after the close of poll and the results shall be declared shortly.
J&K DDC Elections: In 7th phase polls voter turnout of over 57% recorded
