An impressive 74.1 per cent voters cast their vote in the first of the nine-phase panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.
The NC and the PDP have boycotted the panchayat polls. They had also stayed away from urban local body polls held in October.
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Strict security measures were put in place by the authorities for incident-free polls.
Voting started at 8am and ended at 6pm.
In the first phase, 427 candidates were in the fray for 536 sarpanch halqas and 5,951 candidates for 4,048 panch wards, an official said.
The areas in Kashmir region that saw polling today included Keran, Ramhal, Tarathpora, Teetwal and Tangdar in Kupwara; Gurez, Baktoor, and Tulail in Bandipora; Kunzer, Uri, Parenpillan, Noorkah and Kandi-Belt Rafiabad in Baramulla; Gund in Ganderbal; Khanmoh in Srinagar and Khansahib in Budgam district.
In Jammu region, Dachhan, Bunjwah, Marwah, Padder and Warwan in Kishtwar district; Bhalllessa, Changa, Jakyas and Chilli Pingal in Doda; Ramsoo and Khari in Ramban; Dudu Basantgarh, Latti Marothi, Panchari and Moungri in Udhampur; Bani and Duggan in Kathua; Manjakote and Panjgrain in Rajouri and Buffiaz and Surankote in Poonch were covered in the first phase.
In Ladakh region, Drass, Langnak, Barsoo, Tai Suru, Durbuk, Singay Lalok, Khanu, Nyoma, Rong and Rupsho will witness polling in the first phase.
