MASSIVE 98.3% voter turnout in J&K BDC polls, first post Article 370

Voting for Block Development Council (BDC) polls on 310 blocks in Jammu and Kashmir began on Thursday amid tight security and the final voter turnout in most districts of the 22 districts in Jammu and Kashmir was above 95% with the maximum in Srinagar, where a 100% turnout was registered. The BDC elections are taking place for the first time in the newly formed union territories after the revocation of its special status given under Article 370 in August. Here is the final voters' turnout list of the BDC polls:

No delay reported at polling stations

The Congress, National Conference, and the PDP boycotted the first electoral exercise after the abrogation of the State's special status. The pollings began on time on Thursday and no reports of a delay from anywhere were reported. "The polling has started at all the polling stations from 0900 hours this morning. There have been no reports of a delay from anywhere," state Chief Electoral Officer Shailender Kumar told PTI. The polling was held from 9 AM-1 PM and the results would be announced on the same day. 

No reports of any untoward incident

Jammu district electoral officer Sushma Chauhan said that there were no reports untoward incident reported from anywhere in Jammu. Tight security has been put in place at all the polling stations and candidates to ensure peaceful polling. Due care has been taken about the security of panchs and sarpanches who are going to vote for the BDC polls, the officials said.

The highest number of 101 candidates filed nominations from Kupwara district, followed by nearby Baramulla (90), Jammu (82), Rajouri (76), Doda (74), Kathua (72) Udhampur and Budgam (58), Anantnag (55), Kishtwar (44), Ramban (43) and Reasi (39). While Leh and Kargil districts together accounted for 36 and 38 candidates, respectively, Shopian district in south Kashmir had the lowest number of only four candidates.

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Ballot boxes were used during the polls

In total there are 26,629 electors, of which 8,313 are females and 18,316 were male for all 316 blocks across the 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said, adding that the ballot boxes will be used during the polls as the election shall be held through a secret ballot. Out of the 316 blocks, two are without elected panches or sarpanches besides, four blocks have been reserved for women.

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(With PTI inputs)