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Srinagar:
The first District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Saturday with an total voter turnout of roughly 51 per cent, and the counting of votes can be taken up on December 22.
In the eighth and closing section of polling on Saturday, almost 51 per cent turnout was recorded throughout 28 constituencies unfold over 18 districts of the union territory, State Election Commissioner (SEC) Ok Ok Sharma stated.
The DDC elections, the primary democratic train in Jammu and Kashmir after the Centre abrogated the particular standing of the erstwhile state and divided it into two union territories, commenced on November 28 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing a press convention, Mr Sharma stated the polling was peaceable and largely incident-free, barring a number of minor incidents.
“We had a successful last phase of the polls which recorded a turnout of 50.98 per cent for the entire J-K,” Mr Sharma instructed reporters.
He stated whereas 72.71 per cent polling was recorded within the Jammu Division within the closing section, 29.91 per cent turnout was registered within the Kashmir Valley.
While the primary section recorded 51.76 per cent polling, the following phases on December 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 witnessed 48.62, 50.53, 50.08, 51.20, 51.51 and 57.22 per cent polling, respectively.
The counting of votes for the DDC polls, which had been held together with by-elections to panchayats, can be held on December 22.
He stated over 3.21 lakh electors got here out to vote within the closing section for which polling was held from 7 am until 2 pm, at the same time as Kashmir valley reeled below sub-zero minimal temperatures.
“At some places the voting continued after 2 pm as several voters were waiting for their turn to cast the ballot,” he added.
Mr Sharma stated that within the closing section within the Kashmir Valley, Kupwara district within the north recorded the very best turnout of 63.Eight per cent, adopted by 56.5 per cent in Bandipora, 44.6 per cent in Baramulla, 35.12 per cent in Budgam, 11.2 per cent in Kulgam, 8.6 per cent in Anantnag, 8.58 per cent in Shopian and eight.50 per cent in Pulwama.
In the Jammu area, Poonch recorded the very best turnout of 83.58 per cent, adopted by Reasi (81.92), Rajouri (77.31), Kathua (73.93), Samba (73.65), Kishtwar (73.45), Ramban (73.42), Doda (70.33), Jammu (69.39), Udhmapur (60.49).
Mr Sharma stated polling was held in a peaceable ambiance and remained largely incident-free.
“There has not been any significant incident. However, at a few polling stations, attempts of intimidation and ballot papers being torn were reported. Re-polling was ordered after contesting candidates from several political parties, other candidates and voters complained about unlawful activities during polling at some polling stations of Mendhar and Shopian DDC constituencies,” he stated.
The SEC stated a candidate got here below a minor incident of stone throwing in Poonch.
“The PSO of the candidate acted properly and opened fire in air to stop the crowd. This led the people to disperse and there was some injury. This was an unfortunate incident,” he added.
He stated folks have participated with very eager enthusiasm within the polls.
The folks of Jammu and Kashmir need to take part within the improvement of the UT, he stated.
“I want to recognise the role of political parties and independents for participating in these polls. Also, I thank the government machinery including the police and CAPFs for their efforts,” Mr Sharma stated.
On a query about the potential of the meeting polls within the UT after the profitable fruits of the DDC polls, Mr Sharma stated, “Assembly election is the mandate of the ECI (Election Commission of India). It is not right for me to comment. But, they (assembly polls) will happen sometime and the ECI will take steps for it.”
Earlier this morning, the voting started on a boring notice at varied polling stations because of early morning chill. However, it picked up the tempo because the winter solar shone and lengthy queues of voters had been seen outdoors nearly all polling stations throughout the Union Territory.
Over 6.30 lakh electors, together with 3,03,275 feminine voters, had been eligible to vote on this section, officers stated, including a complete of 1,703 polling stations — 1,028 within the Kashmir Division and 675 within the Jammu Division — had been arrange.
The DDC elections recorded a heavy voter turnout in Jammu at 64.2 per cent within the first section, 65.54 in second, 68.88 in third, 69.31 in fourth, 66.67 in fifth, 68.56 in sixth and the very best 71.93 within the seventh section.
However, 10 districts within the Kashmir Division recorded a voter turnout out of 40.65 per cent within the first section of the DDC elections, adopted by 33.34 in second, 31.61 in third, 31.95 in fourth, 33.57 in fifth, 31.55 in sixth and 39.52 per cent within the seventh section, the officers stated.
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