Polling for the third phase saw large scale and enthusiastic participation, including by elderly voters

Voting for the third phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s District Development Council (DDC) polls was conducted on Friday with about 43.03 per cent of voter turnout till 1 pm. Voting was held across 33 constituencies in different districts of the Union Territory.

The first-ever elections to the DDCs are being held in eight phases. A total of 280 constituencies are going to polls - 14 in each of the 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir - in a process that will give elected representatives the power to decide on development projects and expenditure.

According to the data released by the State Election Commission, around 29.87 per cent of voting was recorded in Kupwara while Bandipora recorded around 51.96 per cent of voter turnout till 1 pm.

Similarly, Baramulla recorded 28 per cent of voting while Budgam reported 45.25 per cent of voter turnout. Pulwama and Shopian recorded 9.31 per cent and 18.15 per cent of voter turnout respectively while Kulgam and Anantnag reported 58.76 per cent and 13.11 per cent of voter turnout respectively.

In Anantnag, the voting was disrupted as a candidate was shot at in Kokernag who was immediately rushed to the hospital. Several media reports said that his condition is stable now.

The voter turnout in Kishtwar was recorded at 57.26 per cent and in Doda, it was recorded at 50.49 per cent. Ramban 58.10 per cent and in Reasi, it was 62.37 per cent. Kathua reported 53.60 per cent of voter turnout while in Samba, the voter turnout was recorded at 60.21 per cent.

In Jammu, the voter turnout was 57.96 per cent while in Rajouri, it was 64.48 per cent. In Poonch, 83.07 per cent of voter turnout was recorded. Voting for the third phase began at 7 AM and continued till 2 PM.

The polling in the third phase saw a huge participation of elderly voters. The government of Jammu and Kashmir took to Twitter to inform about the same.

https://twitter.com/diprjk/status/1334785357036941314

https://twitter.com/diprjk/status/1334778031081103361

In the third phase, around 7.27 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their right and decide the fate of around 305 candidates in fray for the third phase.

Voting in the third phase was held in 33 constituencies including 16 from Kashmir division and 17 from Jammu division.

The DDC election and the panchayat by polls are being held in eight phases from November 28 to December 19. The counting of votes will be taken on December 22.

Apart from the DDC elections, by-poll elections for vacant panchayat seats were also held today.

In the first phase which was held on November 28, nearly 52 per cent of polling was recorded for 43 seats. A total of 296 candidates were in the electoral fray in the first phase of DDC elections, including 207 male and 89 female candidates.

In the second phase which was held on December 1, the voter turnout was recorded at 48.62 per cent. Around 43 constituencies went to polls in the second phase.