Saturday, February 5 2005 15:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Maximum alert has been sounded in south Kashmir on the eve of the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir civic polls in Anantnag-Pulwama districts where all polling stations described hyper-sensitive, official sources said today (Feb 5, 2005).

Elections will be held in 69 of the 147 wards in the two districts as no candidates have filed nominations for 29 wards (27 in Pulwama and two in Anantnag) while 49 candidates (29 in Pulwama and 20 in Anantnag) have been declared elected unopposed, the sources said.

Police have sought paramilitary assistance to ensure trouble-free polling, the sources said and a large number of police and security personnel were being deployed to instil confidence among voters.

The civil elections are being held after 27 years. The first phase covered the border districts of Kupwara and Baramulla on January 29 followed by Srinagar and Jammu on February 1.

As many as 184 candidates are in the fray for the 69 wards with 153 candidates, including 51 women, contesting 55 seats in Anantnag. Thirty-one candidates are contesting 14 seats in Pulwama.

Of the 48 candidates elected unopposed, 35 belong to the ruling PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) while its coalition partner, Congress, has eight seats. The Opposition National Conference has bagged three uncontested seats while two have gone to independents.