8th phase of Panchayat polls on Thursday

Srinagar: Amid elaborate security arrangements, seven blocks of Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls under 8th round of multi-phased Panchayat elections on Thursday.
Official sources told that all arrangements have been finalized for elections in four blocks in Kashmir Valley including Trehgam block of district Kupwara, Rafiabad in Baramulla, B.K.Pora in central Kashmir’s Budgam and Shahabad in district Anantnag. Similar arrangements have been made in Barnoti in Kathua, Akhnoor in Jammu and Sunderbani in Rajouri district, they added.
Shahabad Block has been divided in 3 zones and 6 sectors. As many as 45148 Voters including 21779 Female Voters will exercise their franchise at 223 polling stations setup in the block.
For 34 Sarpanchs seats, 112 candidates are in fray while for 223 Panch seats, as many as 489 candidates including 154 Female candidates in contest. One male candidate for sarpanch stands declare unopposed and 24 candidates including 11 Women have also been declared elected unopposed for 24 Panch seats.
In Block Bagat Kanipora in Budgam, 41086 voters including 20220 women voters will elect Panchas and Sarpanches.
So far seven phases of the polls have been completed after beginning on April 13 last. The seven phase will be held on May 8 while eighth on May 12, ninth on May 16 and the 10th to 16th phases will be held on May 21, May 25, May 29, June 2, June 6, June 11 and June 18 respectively.
Panchayat polls are being held through ballot boxes as the State Panchayat Raj Act does not allow the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) in the polls. The polls are being conducted after ten years gap in the state.