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Srinagar: People
exercised their franchise peacefully yet again in the Jammu and
Kashmir panchayat polls Monday, with women voters in particular
turning out in large numbers in the ninth phase of the elections.
A total of 3.4 lakh voters were eligible to vote to elect 1,790
panches and 253 sarpanches in the nine blocks that went to the
hustings.
The blocks were Tangdhar in Kupwara, Singhpora in Baramulla,
Sumbal in Bandipora, Khoripora in south Kashmir, Anantnag and
Srinagar block in Srinagar district of the valley, and Kishtwar,
Rambal, Kathua and Marh in the Jammu region.
Voting started at 8 a.m. and concluded at 2 p.m.
A large number of voters came out early morning in Khimber area of
Srinagar block to cast their votes. Women outnumbered men at many
polling stations in the Srinagar block.
Over 75 percent votes have been polled on an average in the
panchayat elections despite a boycott call given by hardline
separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani.
Other separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman
of the moderate Hurriyat group, and Muhammad Yasin Malik of the
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have maintained a
discreet silence over these elections.
Instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), poll authorities are
using paper ballots and ballot boxes for the panchayat polls,
which are being held in 16 phases. The last phase will be held
June 18.
Votes are counted at the polling stations and results declared the
same day. The elections are being fought on a non-party basis and
no political party has been allowed to field its candidates.
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