Voting underway for 7th phase of Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls amid tight security; 5,575 candidates in fray

Jammu/Srinagar: Voting was underway on Tuesday for the seventh phase of the panchayat polls across Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security.Voters were seen queuing outside polling stations in both Jammu and the Kashmir Valley despite the morning chill. Polling started at 8 am and will end at 2 pm. Voting for this phase is being held at 2,714 polling stations — 576 in Kashmir and 2,138 in Jammu. At least 892 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive in this phase — 428 in Kashmir and 464 in Jammu. [caption id=“attachment_5056941” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. PTI[/caption] A total of 5,575 candidates are in the fray for 341 sarpanch and 1,798 panch seats while 85 sarpanchs and 912 panchs have already been elected unopposed in this phase. Some 475,865 electors will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies and 345880 for Panch constituencies Photo Voter Slips have been distributed among the people to inform them of their polling station. Poll officials said at the end of the sixth phase held on December 1, an overall voter turnout of 73.6 percent has been recorded across the state. The nine-phased elections that began on 17 November is slated to end on 11 December. Panchayat polls were last held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2011.