Jammu, December 3
Defying United Jihad Council’s (UJC) terror threat and freezing conditions, nearly 90 per cent panchayat members today exercised their right to franchise for four seats of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council from the panchayat quota. The elections were held after a gap of 38 years.

Barring sporadic protests, the polling went off peacefully and no violence was reported from any part of the state. The fate of 37 candidates (21 in Jammu and 16 in Kashmir valley) was sealed in 298 electronic voting machines today. The counting of votes will be held at four centres on December 6.

Sarpanches and panches show their identity cards before casting the vote for the Legislative Council elections under panchayat quota on the outskirts of Jammu on Monday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

In the Valley, elections were held under tight security arrangements amid a boycott call by the hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani.

At least 27 companies of the CRPF, including 20 in Kashmir and seven in Jammu, were deployed to ensure foolproof security at polling stations.

The Election Commission received eight complaints regarding violation of the model code of conduct.

“Around 90 per cent of the electoral college exercised their right to vote for four seats of the Legislative Council. The elections concluded peacefully and no violence was reported from any part of the state,” said Umang Narula, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K, this evening. In all, 149 polling stations, including four in snow-bound areas of Kupwara district, were set up across the state. Of these, 28 were declared hypersensitive and 78 sensitive.

The CEO said they were still gathering details of the poll percentage from their field staff and final figures would be available later.

“The polling staff and election material were being airlifted from snow-bound areas like Kishtwar, Gurez, Machail and Zanskar to the district headquarters where counting will be held on December 6,” Narula said.

Counting for the two seats of Kashmir will be held at the SKICC, Srinagar, while that for the two Jammu seats at Polytechnic College, Jammu. Two counting centres have been set up at the respective district headquarters of Leh and Kargil.

On huge turnout amid terror threats by UJC and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, the CEO said it was a welcome sign as people came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.

On complaints of code violations, he said reports had been sought from the district officers and steps were being taken to redress these.

The state has 29,402 panches, including 9,424 females, and 4,098 sarpanches. Out of the total panchayat members, the number of electorate (sarpanches and panches) in Jammu division is 15,600 and 17,900 in Kashmir valley.