(Updating earlier copy)
Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar (NVI): The people of Jammu and Kashmir once again reaffirmed their faith in the democratic system by actively participating in the sixth phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls as a voter turnout of 51.51 per cent was recorded, State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma said today.
SEC Sharma was addressing the media after the culmination of phase-VI of the DDC polls which witnessed a healthy percentage of 51.51 per cent.
While giving a briefing about the elections which were held today, the SEC said that polling was peaceful and people participated enthusiastically despite severe cold conditions in Kashmir division and some hilly areas of Jammu division.
Polling has been peaceful in the poll going 31 constituencies of DDC including 14 in Kashmir division and 17 in Jammu division that witnessed 51.51 per cent of polling, he added.
He said that polling was held in 2,071 polling stations including 1,208 from Kashmir division and 863 from Jammu division.
SEC further informed that Jammu division recorded an average voter turnout of 68.56% with Poonch District recording the highest percentage of 76.78% followed by Rajouri district with 74.03% and 74.02% voting recorded in Reasi district. The lowest turnout in Jammu division was in Kathua district which recorded 60.95%.
The Kashmir Division recorded 31.55% average voter turnout with Ganderbal district recording the highest polling at 58.45% followed by Kupwara District at 51.08% and Bandipora with around 47.66% polling, he added.
Giving district wise details, the SEC said that in Kashmir Division, the polling percentage recorded in Budgam was 30.99%, Baramulla 34.56%, Anantnag 24.06, Kulgam 37.74%, Pulwama 8.16% and 4.60% polling was registered in Shopian.
Similarly, in Jammu division poll percentage of 70.01% was recorded in Samba, 72.04% in Udhampur, 71.34% in Ramban, 62.93 in Doda and 66.32% in Jammu district.
He further said that 3,85,606 (2,07,223 male and 1,78,383 female votes) people exercised their right to franchise for the sixth phase across the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
Counting of votes for Sarpanch and Panch constituencies which went to poll in the sixth phase is being conducted immediately after the close of polls and results shall be declared soon, he said.
-ARK
