An estimated 71.1 percent of voters exercised their franchise on Tuesday, 20 November, in the second phase of panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The polling concluded peacefully amid tight security arrangements.
"In the Phase-II of Panchayat polls held today, overall 71.1 percent polling was witnessed across the state. An overwhelming 80.4 percent polling was witnessed in Jammu division and 52.2 per cent in Kashmir division," state Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra said.
Polling in the districts falling in the winter zone, including the cold desert of Ladakh, where the minimum temperature has dropped to minus 8.8 degrees celsius in Kargil, started on a dull note but picked up pace as the day advanced and the warmth of winter sun spread.
However, the situation was altogether different in the Jammu region, where brisk polling was witnessed from 8 am.
The polling concluded peacefully across 14 districts, seven each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, at 2 pm, Kabra said.
Udhampur district in Jammu region recorded the highest polling of 83.9 percent, while Anantnag district in south Kashmir recorded the lowest at 1 percent.
In Kashmir division, Kabra said Kupwara district topped the turnout chart with 69.7 percent, followed by Kargil at 66.5 per cent and Bandipora and Leh (66.3 percent each), Ganderbal (27.4 percent) and Baramulla (11.2 percent).
Voting for Phase-III of panchayat polls will take place on 24 November. A total of 4,014 candidates were in the fray for 281 sarpanch and 1,286 panch seats in the second phase of the nine-phased elections, which began on 17 November.
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