Jammu and Kashmir: Polling for third phase of municipal elections underway

Amid stringent security arrangements, polling for the third phase of the four-phased municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir is underway. The voting which began at 6 am will culminate at 4 pm.

The officials of the Election Commission said that a total of 372 candidates are in the fray. “There are several hypersensitive and sensitive polling booths, therefore, observers and nodal officers have been appointed to ensure fair and free election,” the officials concluded.

As many as 207 wards in Jammu and Kashmir were scheduled to go to polls in the third phase but polling is being held only in 100 wards including 56 in Samba district in Jammu division and 44 in the Valley.

However, the National Conference (NC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the CPI(M) have boycotted the polls to protest the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution in the Supreme Court.

The first of the four-phased municipal elections was held on October 8 and the second phase was held on October 10. While the urban body polls have seen satisfactory voter turnout in Jammu, the Kashmir valley has recorded a low voter turnout – only 3.4 percent of 2.20 lakh voters exercised their votes in the second phase.

The last phase of the four-phased municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on October 16. Counting of votes will take place on October 20.

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