Phase-III of Panchayat polls on Thursday

Srinagar: All arrangements have been put in place for third round of the multi-phased Panchayat polls in ten blocks of the Jammu and Kashmir being conducted tomorrow (Thursday).Official sources told, 2526 candidates are in fray for five blocks in Kashmir division including Sogam, Boniyar, Ganderbal, Chadoora and Kulgam.Five blocks in Jammu region going to polls include Ramnagar, Dudu Basantgarh, Purmandal, Ghagwal and Satwari blocks. For Boniyar block in north Kashmir, 357 candidates are in the fray including 228 male and 69 female candidates, the sources said.In frontier district Kupwara’s Sogam block, 448 candidates are in the contest. “While 90, all males are in fray for Sarpanchs, 358 candidates are contesting for Panchs including 253 males and 1075 females,” election officer, Tariq Ah Zargar said.One candidate for Sarpach and 67 including 28 females have been declared unopposed in the polls, he added. 629 candidates are in fray for Kulgam in southern Kashmir.  While 147 are in contest for Sarpachs, 482 are in fray for Panchs.Fifty one contestants for panchs have already been declared winner unopposed, the sources added  Similarly, for Ganderbal block, 412 candidates are in the fray. “103 candidates including in fray for Sarpanch while 309 candidates including 229 males and 80 females will vie for Panchs,” Gul Mohammad Jeelani, election officer told Press Bureau of India. He said that one candidate for Sarpach and 37 for panchs have been declared winners unopposed.  For Chadoora block in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a total of 690 candidates are in contest. Officials said that while 588 candidates including 179 females would vie for Panchs, remaining 102 would battle it out for Sarpach posts.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 fourth phase will start on April 25, fifth on April 30, sixth on May 4, seventh on May 8, 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. The first and second round of the polls went off peacefully and a large number of voters turned out to vote for their candidates.