J&K DDC polls: Record 57.22% voter turnout recorded in 7th phase

A record 3.93 lakh electors out of the total 6.87 lakh cast their vote on Wednesday as Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest 57.22 per cent polling in 31 constituencies that went to polls during the seventh phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections.

Jammu division had the highest 71.93 per cent polling with Poonch recording 80.12 per cent turn out, followed by Reasi (76.75per cent), Udhampur (75.63), Samba (64.38), Rajouri (73.10), Kathua (72.85), Kishtwar (69.89), Jammu (68.66) and Ramban (67.75). The lowest 58.82 per cent polling was in Dida district.

Kashmir division recorded 39.52 per cent polling, with Bandipora having the highest 79.47 per cent, Baramulla (59.53), Kupwara (59.23), Ganderbal (53.69), Budgam (45.11), Anantnag (22.46), Kulgam (17.88), Pulwama (11.96), and Shopian (6.55).

Pointing out that the voter turnout had been the highest in all the seven phases of DDC elections held so far, the Union Territory’s Election Commissioner K K Sharma said there had been no law and order issue except for two stray incidents. While one incident pertained to a person allegedly snatching ballot papers from the polling staff in a polling booth, other was of alleged threats to some voters by the polling agent of a contesting candidate in Poonch district.

“We have taken cognisance of both the incidents and asked Poonch Deputy Commissioner to enquire into them,” Sharma said.

About the first instance involving snatching of ballot papers by a person, he said a video about the alleged incident had gone viral on social media. The police have registered a case and efforts are on to identify the person who had his face covered with a cloth, he said, adding that 11 ballot papers snatched by him too have been identified. It will be seen whether these are going to effect the outcome of result in the constituency, he added.