Amid biting cold, voting for the fourth phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections began in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
Reports of voters lining up at the booths have trickled in from many places.
The DDC elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the Centre amended the J&K Panchayat Raj Act, 1989, after the revocation of Article 370 last year.
Voting will happen for a total of 34 DDC seats in the fourth phase: 17 each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions, along with vacant seats for 50 sarpanchs and 216 panchs.
In the fourth phase, 138 candidates, including 46 females, are contesting in Jammu. In Kashmir, 111 candidates are in the fray, including 34 females.
As many as 7,17,322 electors are eligible to cast their votes including 3,76,797 males and 3,40,525 females. Among these, 3,50,149 are from Jammu division and 3,67,173 are from Kashmir division.
The DDC polls are being held amid tight security. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, arrangements have been made for the safety and security of the polling staff, candidates and voters. Sanitisers, masks and thermal scanners have been arranged at the polling booths.
The DDC election has become a direct contest between BJP and People’s Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an alliance of seven regional parties seeking restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the first three phases, voter turnout had been impressive despite the pandemic and cold weather in Jammu and Kashmir.
