Counting of votes for 280 DDC seats in J-K begins

Counting of votes began on Tuesday to decide fate of 2,178 candidates in fray for maiden District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here.

process will bring to an end eight-phase polling process which was spre over 25 days. re are 280 DDC seats -- 14 in each of 20 districts of union territory.

DDC election is being seen as a fight between BJP and or political parties in region.

elections to this third tier of Panchayati Raj system were held for first time in Jammu and Kashmir and were first mass polls since abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

polling was held over eight phases beginning vember 28 and ending on December 19 as 51 per cent of 57 lakh eligible voters exercised ir franchise in elections, which were largely peaceful.

Seven Kashmir-centric mainstream political parties, including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, contested polls in an alliance under banner of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) formed for restoration of Article 370.

Congress was initially a part of PAGD but distanced itself from alliance as BJP targeted opposition party for being in league with 'Gupkar Gang'.

Although Congress went alone in last seven phases, it is widely believed that its understanding with PAGD remains intact.