Jammu : Polling for the sixth phase of Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir began at 8 am on Saturday and will be held at 3174 polling stations. Tight security has been deployed at polling stations that include 410 in Kashmir division and 2764 in Jammu division. The polling will go on till 2 pm.
According to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer 771 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive including 410 in Kashmir division and 361 in Jammu division.
He said 7156 candidates in the fray for the 406 Sarpanch seats and 2277 Panch seats in Phase-VI while 111 Sarpanchs and 1048 Panchs have been elected unopposed in this Phase.
“In the areas going to polls in Phase-VI, an electorate of 597396 electors will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies and 457581 for Panch constituencies. Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the voters to inform them of their polling station that senior government officers have been appointed as General Observers to oversee the smooth, fair and orderly conduct of Panchayat Elections. Also, Expenditure Observers are keeping a watch on the expenditure by the candidates. In addition, for the poll day, Micro Observers have been placed in polling stations, particularly those considered hypersensitive. Zonal and Sector Magistrates too have been deployed.
Control Rooms have been established in all the districts across the State to respond promptly to any complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct as also to disseminate information to the public. Security arrangements have been made including the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (Agencies)).
