Over 51% vote in first election in J&K since integration

In the first phase of voting in the maiden elections in Jammu and Kashmir since its reorganisation, 51.6% per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise.

The voting percentage in Jammu division after the first round was 64.2% and in Kashmir division, it was 40.65%. The first phase of the DDC election and panchayat bypolls had 1,427 candidates in the fray and seven lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise.

On the District Development Council elections, the SEC said a total of 280 constituencies are in the Union Territory of J&K (14 in each district), out of which voting was conducted in 43 constituencies from 7 am to 2 pm in phase-I.

Sarpanch election were conducted in 94 constituencies and a total of 279 candidates (203 males, 76 females) were contesting in the first phase.

Similarly, in panchs bypolls, which were held in 368 constituencies, 852 candidates were in the electoral fray out of which 635 were male and 217 were female.

The elections were held under Standard Operating Procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanitizers and face masks were provided to the voters in case they forget to carry their own.

The DDC election and the panchayat bypolls are being held in eight phases from November 28 to December 19. The counting of votes will be taken on December 22.