Voters' enthusiasm and eagerness showed no let up in the third phase of panchayat polls on Thursday in Kashmir.
Since morning people queued up outside polling booths in chief minister Omar Abdullah's constituency Ganderbal district in north-east of Srinagar. A large number of woman and men turned up in constituency.
"This is a local affair and can bring real change in our village," said Asad Dar, a voter in Ganderbal. Minor clashes between supporters of contesting candidates were, however, reported from Shallabugh village of Ganderbal district.
In south Kashmir's Kulgam district, voting was brisk and smooth at most polling booths. There were similar reports from Sogam, Boniyar and Chadoora.
The polling started at 8 am and concluded at 2 pm in the five blocks of the valley on Thursday.
Preliminary voting projection pegged 56 % voting in Ganderbal district, 62 % in Kulgam district, 78 % in Sogam block, 65 % in Boniyar and 72 % in Chadoora blocks.
In Nuner, there was a small hitch in the poll process when villagers complained at two polling stations that their names did not figure in the voters' lists.
"People indulged in violence at two poll stations and the polls have been countermanded. Fresh polling will take place at these two polling stations on April 25," said a poll officer without revealing his name.
{{/usCountry}}"People indulged in violence at two poll stations and the polls have been countermanded. Fresh polling will take place at these two polling stations on April 25," said a poll officer without revealing his name.
{{/usCountry}}The third phase of panchayat elections in five blocks had 2,500 candidates in the fray.
The elections are being held after ten years in Kashmir. The fourth phase will be held on April 25 and the last phase on June 16.