All arrangements in place for 3rd Phase of DDC polls in J&K

Jammu, Dec 3 : The Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commissioner, K.K. Sharma, on Thursday held a press conference and briefed the media about the arrangements being put in place to conduct the third phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections and panch/sarpanch bypolls in a smooth and peaceful manner.
While giving details about the third phase of DDC elections to be held on Friday, the SEC said that there are a total of 280 constituencies in the UT of J&K (14 in each district), out of which voting will be conducted in 33 constituencies, including 16 in Kashmir division and 17 in Jammu division, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
He further informed that there are total 305 candidates in the electoral fray, including 166 from Kashmir division and 139 from Jammu division, for the DDC elections in Phase 3. Out of the 305 candidates, 252 are male and 53 are female candidates.
Regarding the sarpanch bypolls, Sharma said that out of the 126 constituencies, polling shall take place in 66 constituencies and a total of 184 candidates are contesting in Phase 3 of polling, including 144 male and 40 female candidates. As many as 40 sarpanch constituencies have been filled unopposed.
Similarly, for the panch bypolls, Sharma said that there are 1,738 constituencies, of which 798 have been elected unopposed. Polling shall take place in 327 constituencies and there are 749 candidates in fray.
The SEC further informed that in the third phase, 7,37,648 electorate are eligible to cast their votes in Phase 3, which includes 3,85,675 males and 3,51,973 females. He also said that out of these 7,37,648 voters, 3,74,604 are from Jammu division and 3,63,044 from Kashmir division.