Kashmir recorded 4.2 percent turnout in the fourth and last phase of municipal elections on Tuesday, even as the overall polling percentage across all phases stood at 35.1, officials said.
According to figures compiled by the chief electoral officer, four percent electorate voted in the summer capital Srinagar where the election was held for municipal wards of Hazratbal, Zadibal and Sonawar.
An election official told Greater Kashmir that 9656 votes were polled within
the limits of Srinagar Municipal Corporation during the last phase.
Interestingly, SMC is the only urban body where elections were segregated in four phases due to “apprehensions of law and order disturbances”, he said.
“In comparison to the third and fourth phases, the voter turnout showed some improvement in Srinagar, but it was less than the polling percentage recorded in the city in the first phase,” he said.
6.2 percent votes were polled in Srinagar in the first phase while this figure was 2.3 and 1.8 in the second and third phase respectively.
In Ganderbal district, 11.3 percent voter turnout was recorded in 12 wards of its main town during the final phase on Tuesday.
“In total, 35.1 percent voter turnout was recorded in the state during four phases, primarily due to brisk voting in Jammu and Ladakh,” the election official said.
The culmination of fourth phase marked the end of municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir which had commenced from October 8.
The election was held by the governor’s administration despite two major mainstream political parties—National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party—staying away from the electoral exercise, citing “assault” on Article 35-A which has been challenged in the Supreme Court. The Article confers special rights and privileges on J&K’s permanent residents.
As already reported, the counting of votes will take place on October 20 in 22 district headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the chief electoral officer Shaleen Kabra said that re-poll was Tuesday conducted at polling station number 9 at Bachidarwaza of Makhdoom Sahab (ward number 41).
“Municipal elections-2018 covered 79 municipal bodies with an electorate of about 17 lakh. A total of 3372 nominations were filed for 1145 wards,” Kabra said in a statement.
He also reviewed arrangements for counting of votes, which shall begin at 9 am.