Stage set for fifth phase of polling in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 10 (ANI): The stage is all set for the fifth-phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, which is scheduled for Saturday.

Polling will take place for 11 assembly seats in the districts of Kathua in Jammu region and at Shopian and Pulwama in the Kashmir Valley.

The 11 constituencies are Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora in Pulwama district, Wachi and Shopian in Shopian district and Bani, Basohli, Kathua, Billawar and Hiranagar in Kathua district.

Of the 179 contestants, there are five women in the fray, in the three districts of Pulwama, Shopian and Kathua districts. 58 independents are also in the ring in this phase of elections.

Among these constituencies, Shopian and Tral have the distinction of having the highest number of 21 contestants each in the electoral fray.

In this phase, 73 candidates will contest from Pulwama district which include 21 from Tral, 15 from Pampore, 19 from Pulwama and 18 from Rajpora Assembly constituencies. The total electors in the Pulwama district are 2,93,127.

The sixth and seventh phase of polls in the state will be held on December 17 and 24.

Two phases of the seven-phased elections have been successfully concluded with the active participation of the people.

Despite the separatists call for the election boycott, the first phase of the elections recorded 64 per cent participation. At least 65 per cent voting was recorded during the second phase of polling.

An estimated 55 per cent of the 14 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the fourth phase of polling on December 7.

In the first four phases, the number of candidates showed a marked increase this time as compared to last time. In the Kashmir division the number has gone up to more than double.

The results will be declared on December 28. (ANI)