Voting for the first phase of Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir has started this morning amidst tight security.Polling is taking place in seven districts of Jammu division, six in Kashmir Valley and two in Ladakh. The polls are being conducted on the non-party basis. 427 candidates are in the fray for 536 Sarpanch Halqas and 5,951 candidates for 4,048 Panch wards in the first phase as DD news reported.

 Polling began at 8 am and it will end till 2 PM while Counting of votes will be taken up immediately after the polling is completed.To ensure smooth and peaceful polling, enough security measures have been taken and forces are stationed in strength in poll-bound areas.

 State's Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra had announced nine-phase polling for Panchayat elections in the state. Worth mention here Last Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2011.Elections to the local urban bodies were concluded in four phases recently and the results were announced on the 20th of last month.

Dr RK Manahas, Returning Officer said to the leading news agency ANI,"There is enthusiasm amongst the voters. We are fully prepared, we are hopeful that voting will be conducted peacefully"

According to election officials, 11 candidates for 15 Sarpanch Halqas and 21 for 105 Panch wards in Ganderbal district while six candidates for five Sarpanch Halqas and nine for 45 Panch wards in Srinagar and 35 candidates for 26 Sarpanch Halqas and 124 for 222 Panch wards in Budgam district are fighting the polls in the first phase.

In Kargil, 51 candidates for 23 Sarpanch Halqas and 225 for 179 Panch wards, and in Leh, 64 candidates for 32 Sarpanch Halqas and 207 for 226 Panch wards are contesting, the officials stated.