NEW DELHI, Sept 25: More than 56% of voters on Wednesday exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling for 26 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. “The polling passed off peacefully,” officials said.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, J&K Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole said the second phase recorded a turnout of 56.05%. Mr Pole said the percentage was tentative as polling was going on at some places like Hazratbal and Reasi. He said the polling was peaceful and by and large smooth. “The polling was overall peaceful. Some stray incidents like arguments, etc took place, but there is no need for re-poll anywhere,” he added.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in the Jammu region recorded the overall highest voting percentage at 75.29, followed closely by Poonch-Haveli (72.71), the EC data showed. The maximum voting percentage among the 15 assembly segments in the Kashmir valley was recorded in Khansahib at 67.70. It was followed by Kangan (ST) at 67.60% and Chrar-i-Sharief at 66%.
The key candidates in the second phase included former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state Omar Abdullah, JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra and BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina. A delegation of diplomats from 16 countries, including the US, Norway, and Singapore, observed the ongoing assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The elections in Jammu and Kashmir is being held in three phases. Voting for 24 seats in the first phase was held on September 18 registering a polling percentage of 61.13%. The voting for 40 seats in third phase will be held on October 1 while counting of votes will be held on October 8 along with Haryana which go to polls on October 5.
“Voting took place in a tranquil atmosphere free of fear and intimidation. Voters inhabiting the areas near the border were also empowered to exercise their franchise at 55 border polling stations set up near the LoC in 89 Poonch Haveli and 90 Mendhar AC in Poonch district and 51 such polling stations in Rajouri district. These border polling stations saw voting today in line with the Commission’s resolve to bring even the remotest corners of the country into the democratic fold,” ECI said in a release on Wednesday.
“The overall voter turnout recorded in these six districts that went for polls in Phase 2 has also surpassed the turnout recorded in Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Phase-1 of the Jammu-Kashmir Assembly elections had also witnessed an encouraging response by voters, with a voter turnout of 61.38% at Polling Station across 24 ACs,” the ECI said in a statement.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Pir Panjal region witnessed an overwhelming response from first-time voters who enthusiastically participated in the second phase of assembly elections on Wednesday.
(Manas Dasgupta)