J&K election: Over 10.22 pc turnout in first 2 hours
Insight Online News
Jammu, Sep 25 : The second phase of Assembly elections on Wednesday recorded over 10.22 percent voter turnout till 9 am in 26 constituencies spread over six districts – three in the Valley and as many in the Jammu division.
As the day started, long queues of enthusiastic voters were seen waiting for their turn to exercise their right to franchise.
In the first two hours, Gulabgarh, Surankote, Poonch Haveli and Mendhar Assembly constituencies recorded the highest 14 percent voter turnout.
As per Election Commission of India, during the first two hours of voting Hazratbal recorded 5.43 pc, Khanyar 4.4 pc, Habbakadal 2.63 pc, Lal Chowk 4.28 pc, Channapora 4.28 pc, Zadibal 5.09 pc, Eidgah 6.96 pc, and Central Shalteng 5.08 pc (Srinagar district), Beerwah 11 pc, Khansahib 11.59 pc, Chrar-i-Sharief 13 pc, Chadoora 10.88 pc and Budgam 8.59 pc (Budgam district), Ganderbal 12.06 pc and Kangan 13.52 pc (Ganderbal district), Gulabgarh (ST) 14.38 pc and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi 12.66 pc (Reasi district), Kalakote-Sunderbani 12.79 pc, Nowshera 12.03 pc, Rajouri 13.97 pc, Thanamandi 12.43 pc and Budhal 12.42 pc (Rajouri district) Poonch-Haveli 14.56 pc, Mendhar 14.06 pc, and Surankote 14.57 pc (Poonch).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters in Jammu and Kashmir to use their franchise. “I appeal to all voters that they must cast their votes and play an important role in strengthening democracy,” Modi said while greeting the first-time voters.
Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election underway in the Union Territory from 7 am to 6 pm.
Second phase voting will decide the fate of former chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah who is contesting from two constituencies of Budgam and Ganderbal.
In Budgam, Omar is in contest against Peoples Democratic Party’s Agha Syed Muntazir, cousin of NC leader and Member Parliament Rullah Mehdi.
The fate of J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, who is contesting from Nowshera seat, will also be decided in this phase. The BJP chief is facing a tough challenge from former MLC Surinder Choudhary who is fighting the elections on an NC ticket.
The other prominent candidates whose fate will be decided in the second phase include Congress J&K president Tariq Karra from Central-Shalteng; Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari from Channapora, jailed cleric and separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay from Ganderbal and Beerwa, NC leaders Ali Mohammad Sagar from Khaniyar, Rahim Rather from Chrar-i-Sharief, BJP leaders Aijaz Hussain from Lal Chowk, Choudhary Zulfikar from Budhal and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari from Surankote.
More than 13,000 polling staff have been posted at 3,500 polling stations set up across 26 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, where voting is in progress.
A multi-tier security blanket has been thrown around each polling station to ensure the voting in an atmosphere free of fear.
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held nearly after a decade. The first phase was held on September 18 that recorded an impressive turnout of over 61 per cent and the last phase is scheduled on October 1.
The counting will take place on October 8.
