J-K polls: 16.4% voter turnout recorded at end of 3rd phase

Voter turnout at the end of third phase of the municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 16.4 per cent till 4 pm on Saturday.

While Jammu witnessed 81.4 per cent turnout, Kashmir division recorded a mere 3.5 per cent.

Among the districts, Samba district recorded maximum voter turnout touching 81.4 per cent while the lowest turnout was in Srinagar (1.8 per cent).

Militancy ridden districts of Baramulla in north Kashmir registered 75.3 per cent voter turnout whereas Anantnag in south Kashmir witnessed a mere 3.2 per cent.

It is believed that the voter turnout plummeted in districts of Anantnag and Srinagar, in central Kashmir, because of the boycott call given by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC).

At the end of three phases, Jammu division recorded an aggregate voter turnout of 68.4 per cent while Kashmir witnessed only 6.7 per cent turnout. The state's aggregate voter turnout for three phases is 41.9 per cent.

The elections for the fourth and final phase will be held on October 16. As many as 260 candidates will be contesting for 132 wards.

The counting will take place on October 20.