Srinagar, Feb 8:  Over 50 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir would exercise their voting right during the Panchayat polls scheduled for April this year.
 While the electorate in 12 districts of Kashmir division including Ladakh has gone up to 25,18,639, the number of voters in 10 districts of Jammu region has shot up to 25,59,629.
 As per the final publication of electoral rolls for the Panchayat elections prepared by the office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, the total number of electorate is 50,78,268 in Jammu and Kashmir.
 “The number of voters is 10 lakh more than the electorate for Panchayat polls held last time in 2001,” sources said.
 While there is a minimal difference in the ratio of male and female voters in Ladakh province, the figures are on the higher side for males in both Kashmir and Jammu provinces, sources said.  
 The electorate number was more than 63 lakh for the parliamentary elections held last time in 2009.
 “However, for the Panchayat polls, the voters falling within the limits of Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees are not counted. They are not eligible for voting for the polls,” officials said.
 The department has finalized the process of identifying the number of Blocks, Panchayats and Panch constituencies.
 While the number of Blocks, Panchayats and Panch constituencies in Kashmir is 77, 2164 and 15960 respectively, the figures are 143, 4131 and 29710 respectively for Jammu region. 
 The Jammu and Kashmir is likely to go for Panchayat polls after a gap of more than nine years in March-April this year immediately after annual Budget session of the state legislature.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST