Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Oct 20 (NT): The counting of votes for 52 civic bodies is underway across the hilly state on Saturday. The results will be also declared today.

The polls were conducted in four phases amid strict security arrangements covering 79 municipal bodies with an electorate of about 17 lakhs. According to Election commission of India a total of 3372 nominations were filed for 1145 wards. Poll held on dates of October 8, 10, 13 and 16.

Worth mention here out of 79 civic bodies, no voting was held in 27 civic bodies in the Valley either because there was no candidate or only one candidate had filed nominations for a particular ward.

The maximum voter turnout was 56.7 per cent in the first phase in Jammu and Kashmir.While least voter turnout was registered during the fourth phase which was 4.2 per cent.

Here are Visuals from a counting centre in Udhampur Jammu And Kashmir.

The fight is between the two arch rivals the grand old party Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as Jammu and Kashmir's two major parties- National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Alliance (PDP)- have boycotted the elections over lack of clarity in the PM Modi led Centre's stand on Articles 35A.

Article 35A prohibits people from residing in Jammu and Kashmir, buying or owning immovable property in the state, settling permanently, or getting state government jobs.