J&K records 40% polling in 2nd phase
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 40.31% voting in the second phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections till noon on Tuesday, officials said.
Banidpora district in Kashmir divisiom recorded the highest polling at 60.99% across the state.
According to the figures provided by the office of the State Election Commissioner, in Kashmir Division, Kupwara recorded 34.44% voting till 1 pm, Baramulla 24.69%, Ganderbal 39.05%, Srinagar 28.41%, Budgam 37.72% , Pulwama 6.96%, Shopian 13.08 %, Kulgam 24.34% and Anantnag 28.13 %.
Similarly, in Jammu division, Kishtwar recorded 50.47% voting, Doda 55.82 %, Ramban 57.31 %, Reasi 53.67%, Udhampur 45.31%, Kathua 50.71%, Samba 57.42%, Jammu 61.10%, Rajouri 53.27% and Poonch 59.90 % till 1 pm.
While the Kashmir Division recorded an overall polling percentage of 27.84%, Jammu Division recorded 54.10 % polling.
Voting started at 7 am.While Kashmir division recorded an overall polling percentage of 15.64%, Jammu division recorded 32.54 % till 11 am, they said.
As many as 321 candidates are in the fray in the second phase of the DDC polls and voting is taking place at 2,142 polling booths. As many as 7.90 lakh voters are eligible to vote in this phase of elections.
Out of the 280 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, 43 are going to polls in the second phase with 25 in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu division.
As per the figures given by the office of the State Election Commissioner in Kashmir division, Kupwara recorded voting percentage of 16 percent, Bandipora 39.89 percent, Baramulla 14.45 percent, Ganderbal 15.65 %, Srinagar 18.26 %, Budgam 25.29 %, Shopian 3.95 percent, Kulgam 14.37 % and Anantnag 15.56%.
Elections are also being held in 83 sarpanch constituencies for which a total of 223 candidates are contesting in the phase two.Also, bypolls are being held in 331 panch constituencies. Over 700 candidates are in the fray for these seats. The first phase of the eight-phased elections, marking the first democratic exercise in Jammu and
Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into two union territories last year, was held on November 28 with nearly 52% electorate exercising their franchise in both divisions.
Authorities made all necessary arrangements to ensure peaceful polling and to counter the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are thankful to the people for turning up in large numbers to cast their ballots. This shows the people’s faith in democracy,” senior BJP leader and former minister Chander Prakash Ganga said after casting his vote at a polling station set up in the Government High School at Meen Sarkar in Samba district.
The heavily-guarded polling station witnessed good turnout of voters.
However, many people were seen flouting Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.
Talking to reporters, Ganga said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured implementation of the three tier panchayati Raj system in J&K and we are confident that the efforts of the central government will restore everlasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir”.