J-K Panchayat polls: Poonch clocking highest voter turnout

Despite terror threats and boycott call by the two major political outfits of the region -- the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party -- voters came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the fifth phase.

The voter turnout recorded in other areas of the state are as follows: Rajouri 60.4 per cent, Udampur 60.3 per cent, Jammu 59.1 per cent, Reasi 56.2 per cent, Doda 55.9 per cent.

However, the voting percentage was abysmally low in Budam (29.8 per cent), Baramulla (26.1 per cent), Ganderbal (13.2 per cent), Anantnag (6.7 per cent) and Pulwama (0.2) districts.

Interestingly, after a gap of four long years, these booths have been set up by the poll body. The last elections which took place in the state were held in 2014. The voting for the Assembly elections were held in five phases from 25 November - 20 December 2014.

According to the State Election Commission, after withdrawal and scrutiny, 4,763 candidates are in the fray for 309 Sarpanch and 1,534 Panch seats in the fifth phase, while 118 Sarpanches and 1,046 Panches have been elected unopposed.

For hassle-free voting, the poll body has set up as many as 2,512 polling stations across the region including 1,743 in Jammu division and 769 in Kashmir Valley. Moreover, 848 polling booths have been categorised as hypersensitive.

The Panchayat elections are being held in nine phases in the state. The sixth phase of Panchayat polling is scheduled to take place on December 1 and the counting of votes will take place on the same day.