Jammu, Nov 27 (UNI) Braving chill, people on Tuesday morning lined up to cast their votes for the fourth phase of Panchayat Polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
A 91-year-old man was an inspiration for youngsters as he was the first one to cast his vote in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district.
More than eight lakh electors are expected to exercise their franchise in the fourth phase of the Panchayat Polls.
Polling for Phase-IV of Panchayat Polls-2018 is being held at 2618 polling stations across the state, including 639 in Kashmir division and 1,979 in Jammu division.
The polling started at 0800 hours and will end at 1400 hours.
A voter, Bhagat Ram, 91, resident of Sarmad of ward number 6, Tilla, tehil Billawar early morning despite chilly weather conditions, exercised his franchise.
However, many senior citizens and elderly people were helped by the jawans of Jammu and Kashmir Police in casting their vote.
Cops namely Jagjeet Kumar, Sahil Gupta, Ravinder Singh, Krishan Chand, deployed at Panchayat Dewal Block at polling booth at Tilla, as per police officials, escorted the specially-abled and old aged voters up to the booth and helped them in voting.
'The constables assisted the voters up to the booth and after they cast their vote, again they were helped in reaching to their native places,' he added.
However, as many as 777 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive in Phase-IV including 571 in Kashmir division and 206 in Jammu division.
Around 5,470 candidates are in fray for 339 Sarpanch and 1,749 Panch seats in Phase-IV, while 99 Sarpanchs and 969 Panchs have been elected unopposed in this Phase.
Electorate of 4,72,160 will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies while 3,32,502 will be voting for Panch constituencies.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra on Monday appealed to the voters to come forward and exercise their right to franchise in order to choose their local self-government to address their local needs.
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