Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir continued to witness the trend of high turnout in the ongoing nine-phase panchayat poll as the overall voting percentage of 75.2 was witnessed in the third phase of the elections across the state on Saturday.

According to Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shaleen Kabra, an overwhelming 83 per cent polling was witnessed in the Jammu division while it was 55.7 per cent in the Kashmir division, including the Ladakh region.

A total of 43 blocks spread over 16 districts of the state went to the polls in the third phase where tight security arrangements were put in place to ensure hassle-free polling. No major untoward incident was reported from any poll-bound areas and the voting ended peacefully.

Out of seven districts in the Jammu division, six witnessed over 80 per cent voting with Poonch border district topping the tally with 87.8 per cent followed by mountainous Ramban district with 85.7 per cent.

Giving district-wise details, Kabra said that Kupwara witnessed 59.7 per cent polling, Bandipora 51 per cent, Baramulla 30.8 per cent, Ganderbal 12 per cent, Budgam 41 per cent, Kargil, 75.6 per cent, Leh 64.1 per cent, Kishtwar 85 per cent, Doda 77.4 per cent, Ramban 85.7 per cent, Udhampur 83.8 per cent, Kathua 83.2 per cent, Rajouri 80.3 per cent and Poonch 87.8 per cent.

At least 96 sarpanches and 1,437 panches were elected unopposed and the polling took place for 358 sarpanch and 1,652 panch seats in this phase, with 5,239 candidates in the fray.

A total of 2,773 polling stations were set up 918 in the Kashmir division (including Ladakh) and 1,855 in the Jammu division. Of these, 727 were categorised as hypersensitive 493 in the Kashmir division and 234 in the Jammu division.

Jammu and Kashmir had been witnessed a high turnout of voters in the panchayat elections despite the boycott and shutdown call given by the joint resistance leadership of separatists in the Valley opposing the elections. The mainstream political parties, including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, and CPM, had decided to stay away from the polls though the elections were held on non-party basis.

Pertinently, the overall polling in the first phase was 74.1 per cent across the state with 64.5 per cent in the Kashmir division and 79.5 per cent in the Jammu division.