Jammu, Nov 27: Nearly 6.05 lakh voters will be exercising their franchise across Jammu district in eight phases of first ever District Development Council elections starting from December 1 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.Official sources in J&K Chief Electoral Office here told TNN that 6,05,715 voters in total will participate in electoral process including 3,15,107 male voters and 2,90,608 female voters in the eight phases from 14 constituencies of Jammu district.However, the State Election Commission has also directed special booths for migrant voters while the COVID guidelines are put in place for a smooth election process.Sources said that in Akhnoor Constituency (Phase-1) there are 79 polling stations having 36696 total voters while from Maira Mandrian Constituency (Phase-1), total voters are 28087 and 70 polling stations are established.The Bhalwal Bharmana Constituency will go to polling in Phase-2 and have 101 polling stations with 45145 voters.The Bhalwal Constituency (Phase-3) will have 90 polling stations and 46952 total voters, Marh (Phase-3) will have 116 polling stations and 57740 total voters, said an official.He further said that in Dansal (Phase-4), total voters are 41274 and will have 95 polling stations whereas Nagrota (Phase-4) will have 83 polling stations with 31657 voters and Mandal Phallian (Phase-5) will have 87 polling stations and total 44831 voters.Meanwhile, Miran Sahib (Phase-5) will have 96 polling stations and total 50,300 voters followed by Arnia (Phase-6) with 70 polling stations having 36376 voters, Bishnah (Phase-6) having 94 polling stations and 47784 voters in total.Another border village, R S Pura (Phase-7) will have 83 polling stations with 40705 voters, Suchetgarh (Phase-7) to have 85 polling stations with 44769 voters and Khour (Phase-8) will have 114 polling stations with 53399 voters.However, an official further said that in all 1263 polling stations have been established across the Jammu District.He also said that the State Election Commissioner has put the necessary COVID Protocols in place for ensuring safe District Development Council polls in the Union Territory.The SEC K K Sharma on Thursday directed the Officers to ensure foolproof mechanisms for ensuring strict adherence to the already set Covid-19 protocols so that the voters do not feel any hindrance in coming out to vote.It was also given out that sanitization of polling stations and counting centers would be done before the polling date and afterwards as well.Availability of all protective and sanitization equipment like alcohol based sanitizers, non-contact thermometers, facemasks, face shields and PPE Kits has been ensured at the polling stations as well as for the staff and the voters, he added.Meanwhile special polling stations for Kashmiri Migrants will also be set up at Jammu and Udhampur so that they can effectively exercise their right of franchise.Moreover, the Government has also ordered that any government employee found supporting or campaigning for political representative or candidate during polls, will face stern action.By holding DDC elections, the J&K government wants to complete the three-tier system of Panchayat Raj.Prior to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, J&K did not have a three-tier Panchayat Raj system.Under the new mechanism, each district will be divided into 14 territorial constituencies by the respective deputy commissioners for electing their representatives.These representatives will then elect from among themselves the chairman and vice-chairman of these councils, which are set to become the new units of governance in the region.
