Jammu and Kashmir Civic Election Phase 2 LIVE updates: Zealous voters show up in Kathua, Reasi but Baramulla and Kupwara register low turnout

Voting percentage update at 3 pm

Sumbal: 
Male- 1,392
Female- 1,232
Total- 2,624
Percentage- 33.00%

Kishtwar: 
Male- 3,170
Female- 3,197
Total- 6,367
Percentage- 69.77%                                                                                                                                                                                 

Ramban 
Total: 4,142
Percentage: 75.80%
 

Team 101 Reporters

Voter turnout till 2 pm

Kathua:

Overall- 73%
Kathua – 70% 
Lakhanpur – 90%
Nagri Parole- 85%
Basohli- 72%
Billawar- 79%
Hiranagar – 74%                                                                                                                                                       

 Polling percentage at 3 pm 

Udhampur – 65.32% 
Ramnagar – 79.88%
Chenani- 78.79%  
 

Bivek Mathur/101Reporters

Lone queues of voter seen in Kathua and Reasi; Baramulla and Kupwara register low turnout

Despite terror threats and boycott call by PDP and NC, voters have come out in large numbers to cast their votes in the second phase of the urban local bodies elections in the state. However, the voting percentage was abysmally low in Baramulla, Srinagar, Kupwara and Anantnag. Long serpentine queues were seen outside scores of wards, especially in Kishtwar, Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts.

Speaking to ANI, Balwant Singh Mankotia, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party expressed satisfaction over the commencement of urban local body polls in the region and said, “These elections will surely bring some relief to people residing in the region. There are certain demands of people like solid waste management, traffic jams, water crisis, and electricity for 24 hours which voters are expecting to get fulfilled.”

A voter from Bandipora district said that they are voting in order to develop their region and get employment in the coming months. “We are voting for development. We want to get employed. It good that these elections are happening and I am happy that a lot of people are coming out to cast their vote,” he said.

Polling updates till 2 pm

Doda district
Doda: 
Votes polled- 4153
Percentage- 70.4%
 

Thatri:
Votes polled- 612
Percentage- 82.03%

Bhaderwah:
Votes polled- 4274
Percentage- 62.37%
District percentage- 66.98%

Team 101 Reporters

Polling updates till 2 pm

Ward No. 19: Sholipora Alochi Bagh: 

18 votes cast out of 1,419 voters in one of the booths, 16 votes cast out of 1213 voters in another pooling booth in the area

Ramban: 70.97% turnout
Total- 3995 votes

Reasi: 74.46% votes

Kathua: 72.79% turnout
Male- 20,693
Female- 19,342
Total- 40,035 votes​

Gursimran Singh/101Reporters

Polling percentage update at 2 pm

Sumbal: 28.64%
Male- 1,203
Female- 1,074
Total- 2,277

Udhampur District: 66%
Chenani: 78.93%                                                                                                                                                 
 

Kishtwar: 66.13% 
Male- 2,986
Female- 3,049
Total- 6,035

Team 101 Reporters

Officials say polling going on smoothly, no violence reported so far

Authorities have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling which will seal the fate of 1,029 candidates. A total of 544 polling stations, including 274 in Jammu and 270 in Kashmir, have been set up and are being guarded by police and paramilitary forces.  “The polling in Jammu region is going on smoothly and there was no untoward poll-related violence reported from anywhere,” officials told PTI. 

The first phase of the polling was held on 8 October after a gap of 13 years and saw a voter turnout of 56.6 percent. The third phase of the polling is scheduled for 13 October followed by fourth and final phase on 16 October. The counting of votes is scheduled for 20 October.

Votes turnout till noon

Kathua:

Overall- 58.09 %
Kathua – 55.25 % 
Lakhanpur – 80.67 %
Nagri Parole- 74.28%
Basohli- 58.08%
Billawar-66.62%
Hiranagar -60.18%

Kishtwar till 1 pm 
Male- 2778
Female-  2837
Total-  5615
Percentage- 61.53%

Bivek Mathur/101Reporters

Phase 2 of ULB polls to decide fate of 1,029 candidates 

There are 1,029 candidates — 881 in Jammu division and 148 in Kashmir division — are in the fray for 263 municipal wards, including 49 in Kashmir and 214 in Jammu. A total of 65 candidates — 61 of them from Kashmir valley — have already won the polls uncontested, while in 56 wards — all in the valley — no nomination was received, so no polling is taking place in those places, officials told PTI.

As many as 270 polling stations have been designated for voting in the Kashmir division and 274 in the Jammu division. The officials said the total electorate in these wards is 3,46,980 — 1,28,104 are in the Jammu division belonging to 18 Municipal bodies and 2,18,876 in the Kashmir division of the five municipal bodies. A total of 3,372 nominations have been filed for 1,145 wards. The next phases will take place on October 13 and 16.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress raises doubts over credibility of polls, seethes over Governor’s remark on new Mayor

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) hit out at Governor Satya Pal Malik for hinting that a “foreign-educated person” will be the mayor of Srinagar. The reference was to Malik’s interview to NDTV on Monday in which he had hinted that a foreign-educated person was going to become the mayor of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).

JKPCC vice-president Ghulam Nabi Monga, while expressing surprise over the Governor’s remarks Monday, told PTI that “the ongoing elections have lost the credibility as BJP-RSS has already decided as to who would be the mayor”. Monga also hit out at the Governor for “failing to uphold the constitutional authority” of the Raj Bhavan, saying the Governor being the constitutional head of the state should “not play in the hands of BJP-RSS”. Seeking clarity from Malik over the remarks, Monga said the statement is going to cause “severe damages” to electoral exercise currently underway in the state. He alleged that the BJP and RSS have decided as to who would be the mayor of the SMC and “the Governor has been assigned the task to complete the process before the outcome of the elections”.

Jammu’s Udhampur registers 57% voter turnout 

Udhampur had recorded 57% voter turnout by 1 pm.

Gursimran Singh/101Reporters

Bandipora registers 22.2% polling till noon but disappointing show in Srinagar 

The polling percentage in Kashmir in the first six hours remains 6.8%. Except for Bandipora where the poll percentage was 22.2 percent till 12 pm, the voting in all other districts was in single digits. In Srinagar district, the poll percentage was 1.4 percent.

Independent candidate Shabir Ahmad gets local support in Sumbal

The large voter turnout in Sumbal is due to an independent candidate Shabir Ahmad, who is also a social activist. He has been organising blood donation camps and helping locals with their personal problems and that is why locals have turned up in huge numbers to support him.

Polling update till 1 pm

Ramban​: 66.48 % polled

Sumbal: 25.42% polled
Male : 1,070
Female : 951
Total : 2,021
 

Team 101 Reporters

Voter turnout till noon

Reasi: 64% turnout

Male- 1,542
Female- 1,353
Total- 2,895, 

Kishtwar: 54% turnout                                                                                                                                                                                             

Male- 2, 425

Female- 2,502
Total- 4,927
 

Ramban: 56%
Banihal: 52.1%  
Batote: 62%
Overall in Ramban district: 58.4%
 

Team 101 Reporters

Ramnagar in Udhampur records highest polling percentage of 77.2% till noon

In Udhampur district, the district municipal council recorded 47.3% polling while municipal committees of Ramnagar and Chenani witnessed 77.2% and 61.35% polling respectively. The total polling percentage of the town was recorded 51% till 12 pm.
 

Whereas in the Udhampur district, 51.09% polling was registered till noon. Out of the 18,063 votes, there were 9,852 males and 8,211 females

Team 101 Reporters

Ward No. 9 of Sumbal has seen an overwhelming voter turnout 

Aakash Hassan/101Reporters

Congress leader accuses BJP MLA Neelam Langeh of MCC violation

Congress leader Gopal Raina blamed BJP MLA Neelam Langeh of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Langeh stood atop a building adjacent to the polling station and asked people to cast vote in favour of BJP candidates, he claimed. 

Bivek Mathur/101Reporters

Opposition alleges ‘bogus voting’, accuse Governor of partiality 

The Opposition has attacked Governor Satya Pal Malik for poor handling of the polls and has alleged that “bogus voting” is underway as “the governor has already decided on the Mayor of Srinagar”, according to an NDTV report.

Voting percentage update at noon

Udhampur- 47.32%

Ramnagar- 77.26%

Chenani- 61.49%

No vote polled yet at Ward No.37 Munawar Abad

Team 101 Reporters

Polling update at noon

Ramban:
Total- 3290, 58.44 % voting

Kathua:

Male- 17,171
Female- 15,257
Total- 32,428
Voting percentage- 58.96%

Gursimran Singh/101 Reporters

Voter turnout at noon

Doda district- 57.35%

Doda municipality 

Votes polled- 3,626
Percentage- 61.4%

Thatri  
Votes polled- 572

Percentage- 76.67%

Bhaderwah

Votes polled- 3541

Percentage- 51.67%

Gursimran Singh/101 Reporters

BJP blames NC, PDP reasons for low turnout; NC says ‘security condition is deteriorating’ 

BJP state spokesperson Altaf Thakur claimed that militants threats and boycott by the NC and the PDP were main reasons for the low voter turnout. “The militants also issued life threats, petrol bombs were hurled at candidates’ houses. The voter turnout will be more in phase 2 than the phase 1,” he said. 

Meanwhile, National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said that his party has been saying that situation was not conducive for polls. “Who will come out to vote under present circumstances when the BJP is hell bent to abrogate Article 370 and 35A. We also decided to stay away from polls for the same reason. The security situation is deteriorating with each passing day, " Sagar said.

Mudassir Kaloo/101Reporters

Political parties see conspiracy in the change of poll timings

Political parties in Kashmir see the decision of the chief electoral officer to open polling since 6 am as an attempt to rig elections. Former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, tweeted that this may have been done to discourage journalists from checking the veracity of the polls. State vice president of Congress, GN Monga, said that this was another attempt to rig polls.

The polling timing for this phase 2 of the civic elections was modified from 7 am to 6 am and the voting would is scheduled for 10 hours. Election officials said that this was done to ensure better a turnout.

Only 4 votes registered in Srinagar’s Sathu Babarshah

Just four votes have been polled at Ward No. 37 in the Sathu Barbarshah area in Srinagar.

Firdous Hassan/101Reporters

Polling update at noon

Sumbal 
Male- 939
Female- 815
Total- 1754
Percentage- 22.06%

Kishtwar 

Male- 2425
Female- 2502
Total- 4927
Percentage- 54% 

Input: Gursimran Singh/101Reporters

Voting percentage till 11 am

In Ramban district

Ramban: 46.9%
Batote: 47%
Banihal: 44%

Bivek Mathur/101Reporters

Bandipora SSP says voting underway peacefully, people participating in large numbers

“Our security arrangements are robust. The voting process is going on very well. Voters are feeling safe and people are coming out in large numbers to cast their vote,” Bandipora SSP Zulfikar Azad told reporters.

Our security arrangements are robust. Voting process is going on very well. Voters are feeling safe. People are coming out in large numbers to cast their vote: SSP Bandipora Zulfikar Azad on voting for the second phase of local body elections in #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/01cBWH3YFD

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2018

Watch: Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel hold a senior citizen on his shoulders to the polling station

The voter turnout has been bleak so far in the urban local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Kashmir witnesses negligible voting: 0.9 percent voter turnout recorded

All areas of Kashmir, including those from its northern and southern parts, have witnessed negligible voting. In Srinagar district, the voter turnout recorded so far is only 0.9 percent even as a large number of candidates had filed nominations.

The turnout is 0.5 percent from former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s home district Anantnag.

In Sumbal area of Bandipora, however, voter turnout has been recorded in double-digits

No voters turned up at polling booths in Srinagar’s Shaheed Gunj

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters

In pics: 100-years old Ghulam Mohammed Mir after casting his vote at Sumbal, Bandipora camp.

Auqin Javeed, 101Reporters

New dates to be announced for elections in Ramban after BJP candidate’s death

A BJP MLA from Ramban, Neelam Langeh, said that as per election guidelines, new dates will be announced for elections in Ramban, where BJP candidate Azad Singh Raju died on Wednesday morning. The elections will be held after BJP’s new candidate files a nomination.

Langeh alleged that the Opposition use money and wine to garner votes. “Candidate was in tension due to such practices by Opposition, I spoke to SHO and  ASP on this issue yesterday,” she said.

Gursimran Singh, ​101Reporters

Voting percentage till 11.00 am

Sumbal (​Bandipore district)

Male: 803
Female: 661
Total: 1464
Percentage: 18.41%

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

No polling in 3 municipalities of Budgam district

In absence of candidates and opponents, there is no polling in three municipalities of Budgam district. The election was originally scheduled to happen the second phase. 
 

Abid Hussain, 101Reporters

Polling stalled in Ramban Municipal Committee ward following death of BJP candidate

The polling in Ward No. 2 in Ramban Municipal Committee was stopped for 40 minutes following the death of a BJP candidate Azad Singh Raju on Wednesday morning, The Indian Express reported. Ramban Deputy Commissioner Showkat Azad Bhat said that he was examining the death certificate of Azad Singh and will soon convey his decision in the matter.

17 polling booths have reported zero percent voting                                                                         

17 polling booths have zero percentage of cast votes, which includes five at Caset School Karan Nagar, two at government middle school in Munawar Abad, two at R and B office at Karan Nagar, six at tiny Tots school at Fateh Kadal and two at community Centre Fateh Kadal. All these centres fall in different wards, including Syed Ali Akbar.

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters

Reasi records 35.55% polling till 10 am, Katra registers 35.90%

Bivek Mathur, 101Reporters

Visuals from a polling station in Bandipora

Polling is peacefully underway for phase 2 of the Jammu and Kashmir civic polls.

#JammuAndKashmir: Voting is underway for the second phase of local body elections in the state. Visuals from a polling station in Bandipora. pic.twitter.com/CnVL9e1Nlm

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2018

Kathua polling updates till 10 am

Overall voting percentage- 39.15 %
Kathua – 37.2% – 
Lakhanpur – 51.95%
Nagri Parole- 50.9%
Basohli- 38.82%
Billawar-41.52%
Hiranagar -37.52%                                                                                                                                                                                     

Bivek Mathur, 101Reporters

In Pics: Security forces frisk voters at the Sumbal Degree College polling booth

Abid Hussain, 101Reporters

Voters threaten photojournalist covering the polling in Zainkote

A group of voters on Wednesday barred photojournalists from covering the civic polls at Khushpora in Zainkote districts in the outskirts of Srinagar city. “The voters asked us not to capture pictures at the polling station and threatened to break our cameras if we do so,” said a photojournalist. On Monday, when the first phase of ULB polls was held, photojournalists were not allowed to take pictures at Bemina area of the city.

Arjun Sharma, 101Reporters

Doda sees 36.22% voter turnout, 39.1% in Kathua till 10 am

While in Sumbal, 1,126 voters have exercised their franchise and the poll percentage stands at 14.16 % till 10.00 am. Among the 1,126 votes cast, 623 males and 503 females have cast their votes. 

Team 101 Reporters

Polling updates till 10 am

Thathri 
Votes- 364 out of 746
Female- 147
Male- 217
Percentage- 48.79% 

Doda

Votes- 2350 out of 5897
Percentage- 39.8%

Bhaderwah 
Votes polled- 2174 out of 6852
Percentage- 31.7%

Thatri
Votes polled- 364 out of 746
Percentage 48.7%

Team 101 Reporters

Polling percentage till 10 am

33.13% polling seen in Kishtwar 

Chenani 

Male – 293, Female – 181, Total – 474
Percentage- 33.74%

Ramnagar 

Male – 785, Female – 632 , Total – 1417
Percentage – 37.5%

Team 101 Reporters

Voting percentage till 10.00 am

Sumbal (​Bandipore district)

Male- 623
Female- 503
Total-1126
Percentage-14.16%

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Hurriyat bastion Fateh Kadal boycotts polls

In 9 polling stations of Fateh Kadal of downtown Srinagar, only 8 votes have been cast out of 10,092 votes. This is the bastion of the Hurriyat and has always boycotted polls.

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters.

Poor voter turnout in Srinagar’s Bemina

At Bemina Ward No. 27-H, 3 votes have been cast out of the total 793 registered voters here. At Ward No. 27-M, six votes have been polled out of 1,079 total votes, whereas at Ward No. 27-G no vote has been cast out of 1,028 total number of voters.

Aakash Hassan, 101Reporters

No voting today in 70 wards in the Valley as no one filed for candidature from these wards

According to officials, no nominations were received in 70 wards in the state, hence voting isn’t taking place in these wards today. In Kulgam district’s Frisal municipal committee, there are 13 wards but only one candidate has filed election papers. Likewise, out of 13 wards in Beerwah municipal committee of Badgam district, there is only one candidate in the fray, The Financial Express reported.

Kishtwar polling percentage till 9.00 am — 23.27%

Male- 1123
Female- 1001
Total- 2124 votes polled
Polling Percentage- 23.27% 

Bivek Mathur, 101Reporters

Crucial contest for BJP as MoS Jitendra Singh’s constituency votes today

The second phase of municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be a litmus test for the BJP as most areas of the Jammu division constitute the parliamentary constituency represented Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Jitendra Singh had defeated Congress stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It was for the first time, that a Hindu BJP candidate won even in the Muslim majority areas of Doda and Kishtwar districts.

Among the municipal committees and municipal councils falling in his area that are witnessing polling today include Doda, Thathri, Basohli, Billawar, Hiranagar, Kathua, Lakhanpur, Nagri Parole, Kishtwar, Banihal, Batote, Ramban, Katra, Udhampur, Reasi, Chenani and Ramnagar. 

Arjun Sharma, 101Reporters

Polling percentage update till 9 am

Kishtwar: 23.27% voting, 2,124 votes polled 

Ramban: 22.4% voting, 1,191 votes polled

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Watch: Women queue- up outside the polling stations in Udhampur

Udhampur has seen 22.15% votes being polled till 9.00 am.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Voting update till 8 am 

Reasi: 851 votes polled
Male- 533 
Female- 318
Polling percentage- 18.84%

Katra: 839 votes polled
Male- 506, Female- 333

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Restrictions imposed in Srinagar’s downtown area, no vehicular movement allowed towards the city centre

Restrictions have been imposed in Srinagar’s downtown area in the wake of the ULB elections. No vehicular movement is allowed towards the city centre by the government forces guarding the checkpoints that have been set up at the Hawal area of Srinagar.

Saqib Mugloo, 101Reporters

Voting updates from Sumbal municipal corporation till 9 am

Male- 435
Female- 313
Total- 748
Percentage- 9.41%

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Not a single vote cast in Haptchinarm, Magarmaal Bagh and Amirakadal school polling booths in Srinagar

In Srinagar, Haptchinar in has 668 total voters, Magarmaal Bagh has 512 total voters whereas Amirakadal Higher Secondary School polling booth has 533 total voters but not a single vote has been cast so far in these three polling booths.

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters

Voting percentage updates from Kathua 

16% turnout seen in Kathua, 26.7% in Lakhanpur municipal corporation

Bivek Mathur, 101Reporters

Watch: Paramilitary forces guarding deserted polling booth of Shalipora in Alochi Bagh

People have boycotted the civic elections in this area of Srinagar on the call of the separatists.

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters

12% polling in Ramnagar, Udhampur sees around 10% voting

9.69% voting in Municipal Council of Udhampur, 14.44% and 12.74% polling in Municipal Committees of Ramnagar and Chenani.

Bivek Mathur, 101Reporters

Voting updates from Srinagar                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Shalapora B

Ward 19- Alochi Bagh 
Total voters: 1213, 3 cast so far 

Shalapora A
Ward 19 
Total voters: 1419, 12 cast so far 
 

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters

No vote registered in Ward No. 37 of Muniwar**, separatists had called for a boycott of elections**

Following the boycott call by separatists, not even a single voter has come out to vote at the Muniwar (Booth 5, Ward No.37) polling station. The total number registered voters in this ward is 92.

Aakash Hassan, 101Reporters.

Polling percentage update till 8 am

Ramban: 14%                                                                                      

Kishtwar: 12.92%                                                                                                                

Kathua: 17.23%                                                                                         

Doda: 12.51 %

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

In Pics: Voters stand in a queue as they wait for their turn to vote in Jammu’s Udhampur 

Polling has picked up in the 41 wards of Udhampur as the day progresses. 

#JammuAndKashmir: People queue up outside a polling booth in Udhampur to cast their votes for the second phase of local body elections. pic.twitter.com/15Sy9VXxC7

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2018

Only 11 votes cast so far in Srinagar’s Munawarbad 

Out of the 5,344 total votes in the Munawarbad ward in Srinagar, only 11 votes have been cast till now.

Junai Nabi Bazaz, 101Reporter

Voting underway in sensitive region of Bandipora

Visuals from a polling booth in Bandipora as people cast their vote early on for the second phase of local body elections.

#JammuAndKashmir: Earlier visuals from a polling booth in Bandipora as people cast their vote for the second phase of local body elections. pic.twitter.com/qxzkSLiigM

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2018

Only 3 votes cast so far in Srinagar’s Alochi Bagh 

Only three votes have been cast in ward numbers 216 and 19. Ward No. 19 is in Alochi Bagh in Srinagar.

Image caption: The Alochi Bagh pooling booth wears a deserted look.

Mudassir Kaloo, 101Reporters.

Visuals from a polling station in Reasi

Voting is underway in 13 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the second phase of the urban local bodies elections.

Voting underway in 13 districts of #JammuAndKashmir in the second phase of urban local bodies elections; #visuals from a polling station in Reasi pic.twitter.com/CpRO7ZFFow

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2018

Watch: Voting underway at the Govt Middle School in Chak Sheikhan village of Kathua district in Jammu

People have come out in good numbers to vote in this area.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters 

Visuals from a polling booth in Srinagar’s Lawaypora

148 candidates are contesting from the Kashmir division in phase 2 polls.

#JammuAndKashmir: Voting for the second phase of local body elections is underway in 13 districts of the state. Visuals from a polling booth in Srinagar's Lawaypora. pic.twitter.com/kIii52avFS

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2018

Mobile internet services suspended in south Kashmir, speed reduced to 2G in rest of the state

Mobile internet services have been suspended in the entire south Kashmir region as voting for 13 districts in the second phase of urban local bodies elections is underway. The mobile internet speed has been reduced to 2G in rest of the Kashmir, ANI reported.

1,683 votes polled in Kathua, 2.38% polling seen in Ramban till 7 am

Total 1,683 votes polled in Kathua so far. 2.38% polling registered till 7 am in Ramban.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters.

Polling underway in Fateh Kadal and Chattabal — two sensitive zones of Srinagar

In Srinagar, Fateh Kadal and Chattabal in are the two sensitive areas out of the 20 wards where polling is underway. Fateh Kadal is a downtown area is close to, Nowhatta, the hotbed of stone-pelting incidents between government forces and protesters. Chattabal, is also a volatile area where stone-pelting takes place very often.

Junai Nabi Bazaz, 101Reporters.

Polling percentage update till 7 am:

Sumbal:
Male- 46
Female- 12
Percentage- 0.73%

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Polling percentage update till 7 am:

Kishtwar:
Total votes polled- 465
Percentage – 5.09 %

Doda:
Total votes polled- 360
Percentage – 6.1 %

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Additional polling and security staff deployed in Doda amid terror threat                                           

Keeping in mind the number of youth from the Doda district of the Jammu region that have joined terror ranks in the recent past, the administration has taken all the necessary steps to ensure incident-free polling in the district.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters

Kathua and Kishtwar most sensitive areas in Jammu division

In Six districts of the Jammu region, the districts of Kathua and Kishtwar are topmost sensitive areas. Kathua has been on the boil since the murder and rape of an eight-year-old girl in January 2018. Whereas the Kishtwar district of the Jammu region is sensitive keeping in view the religious demography of the area.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters.

Polling begins in Doda; 68 polling stations setup in Udhampur

Polling had begun in Doda; whereas in 41 wards of Udhampur, 68 polling station have been setup and no EVMs have been replaced so far, Udhampur DC Ravinder Kumar said.

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters.

Additional polling staff deployed in wards with large number of voters

The chief election officer said that 1,029 candidates are in the fray for 263 municipal wards including 49 in Kashmir and 214 in Jammu, going to polls in the second phase. He said that 881 candidates are in the fray in Jammu division and 148 in Kashmir division. “In the areas going to polls tomorrow, the total electorate is 3,46,980, with 1,28,104 in the Jammu division belonging to 18 Municipal bodies and 21.8876 in the Kashmir division of 5 Municipal bodies,” he said adding that additional poll staff is also being deployed at the polling stations with large number of voters. 

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters.

270 polling stations designated for Kashmir, 274 for Jammu in phase 2

The Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Shaleen Kabra said that in the second phase of the municipal polls, voting will take place at 544 polling stations across the state from 6.00 am to 4.00 pm. He said that 270 polling stations have been designated for voting in the Kashmir division and 274 in the Jammu division.

Gursimran Singh, Team 101Reporters

Polling time increased from 9 hours to 10 hours, 214 wards to go to polls in Jammu

In phase 2 of the elections, 214 wards of six district’s of the Jammu region are going for polls. 881 Candidates are in the fray while 274 polling Stations have been set up in the region. Election Commission has increased polling time from 9 hours to 10 hours. 

Image caption: A 75-year-old woman casts her vote at the Reasi polling station’s Ward No. 4. The Reasi district falls under the Jammu division. 

Gursimran Singh, 101Reporters.

Over 1,000 candidates in fray for the second phase of J&K civic polls

Over 1,000 candidates will participate in the second phase of the urban local bodies polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The second phase will cover a total of 384 wards spanning 13 districts across the state – seven of which are in the Valley, officials said.