Kashmir recorded a low voter turnout in the sixth phase of panchayat polls on Saturday, with just 17 percent electorate exercising their franchise.
According to official figures released by the chief electoral officer ShaleenKabra this evening, 17.3 percent turnout was recorded in Kashmir division, even as overall polling percentage across Jammu and Kashmir stood at 76.9.
The Saturday’s voter turnout was lowest-ever in ongoing panchayat polls in Kashmir division where the previous lowest turnout was 32 percent in the fourth phase.
In three districts—Budgam, Anantnag and Kulgam—the voter turnout remained less than 10 percent as polling areas there recorded nine percent, 7.3 percent and 4.6 percent turnout, respectively.
Similar trend was also witnessed in these districts in the previous phases of panchayat polls and the urban local body elections conducted by the governor’s administration from October 8 to October 16 this year.
While poor response to electoral exercise in Kulgam and Anantnag districts in southern Kashmir was on expected lines, the abysmal polling percentage and cold response to local body elections in Budgam district has come as a surprise.
The district, which otherwise was considered as a voting bastion, witnessed widespread violence during the bypoll held for Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary segment on April 9 last year.
Low voter turnout was also recorded in northern Baramulla district where election was held in three blocks including Sopore.
According to official figures, 12.1 percent voter turnout was recorded in Baramulla, 35.5 percent in Bandipora, 41.5 percent in Ganderbal and 12.5 percent in Srinagar.
The trend of high voter turnout continued in Jammu as the region recorded 84.6 percent polling, almost five times more than Kashmir.
According to figures, 80.4 percent was recorded in Doda, 81.5 percent in Ramban, 88.5 percent in Udhampur, 85.6 percent in Reasi, 84 percent in Kathua, 84.7 percent in Samba, 87.1 percent in Jammu, 83.6 percent in Rajouri and 81.8 percent in Poonch.