Budgam, Dec 01: No polling was witnessed in the the majority of Sarpanch Halqas and Panch wards of Nagam and Charar-i-Sharief blocks of Budgam as nearly 93 percent seats either fell vacant or were bagged by candidates without fighting polls on Saturday.
Whereas only 15 seats among 206 went for polls in the sixth phase of rural elections and recorded 9.33 percent turnout here.
“Out of total 4712 and 1297 votes in Nagam and Charar-i-Sharief, 456 and 105 were cast respectively,” an official said.
Nagam’s three Sarpanch Halqas and eight Panch wards registered 9.67 percent polling, while Charar-i-Sharief block’s lone Sarpanch and three Panch wards witnessed 8.10 percent turnout.
Interestingly, only single vote was cast in Charar-i-Sharief-A ward out of 117 and eight ballots were polled in Loolipora ward of Nagam out of 1220, official figures said.
Seven candidates were in fray for three Sarpanch and 17 for eight Panch wards in Nagam. Similarly, three candidates were contesting for one Sarpanch and six for three Panch seats in Charar-i-Sharief.
Nagam has 18 Sarpanch Halqas and 132 Panch wards while Charar-i-Sharief has seven Sarpanch Halqas and 49 Panch wards
In Nagam, 23 nominations were filed for Sarpanch seats and 99 for Panch wards, among these nominations of four Sarpanch and six Panch candidates were rejected during scrutiny, three Sarpanch and 18 Panch contestants withdrew. Also, six Sarpanch and 66 Panch seats are lying empty.
In Charar-i-Sharief, 11 candidates submitted papers for Sarpanch seats and 42 for Panch wards. Two Sarpanch and six Panch nominees took back their nominations while candidature of one Panch contestant was cancelled. Also, 17 Panch wards remained uncontested.
Significantly, unlike other blocks, Charar-i-Sharief is the lone Panchayat block in district Budgam where not even a single Panchayat Halqa remained unfilled.
Further, nine Sarpanchs and 58 Panchs in Nagam were declared winner unopposed, while six Sarpanchs and 29 Panchs also won unopposed in Charar-i-Sharief.
