At 78.6%, high turnout continues in Jammu division

In a clear snub to separatists, National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, an impressive 78.6% of voter turnout was witnessed in Jammu division in the second phase of municipal elections to municipal bodies in 11 districts on Wednesday.

Chief electoral officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra said in Jammu division 78.6% percent polling was witnessed in 214 wards that went to polls while Kashmir division witnessed an average three percent polling in 49 wards with Bandipora recording the highest 36% turnout.

At 84.6%, highest polling percentage in Jammu division was recorded in Reasi district, the CEO said.

Six districts, Reasi, Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda, Udhampur and Kathua districts went to polls in Jammu region.

Kishtwar deputy commissioner Angrez Singh Rana said, “Kishtwar district recorded an overall 72.77% voter turnout. The polling was conducted peacefully. We had a total of 9,125 voters out of whom 6,641 exercised their right.”

Ramban deputy commissioner Showkat Aijaz Bhat said, “Ramban district had a total poll percentage of 79.5% with Ramban municipal committee having 83%, Batote 81% percent and Banihal 69% votes”.

“The polling in ward number 2 in Ramban was cancelled following the death of BJP candidate Azad Singh Raju,” he added.

“Ward number 5 and 4 in Ramban witnessed 98% and 90% polling,” he added. The enthusiasm could be gauged from the fact that two centurions, Padam Nabh Sharma (104) and Gohar Singh (100) were among oldest voters in the district. The hilly district of Doda recorded 73% turnout, said Doda deputy commissioner Simrandeep Singh.

“There were 13,495 voters out of whom 9,820 polled their votes. There was no untoward incident. It was an impressive turn out,” he said.

Similarly, Udhampur district also recorded an impressive 79.21% turnout. “There was an overall percentage of 79.21%. In Ramnagar and Chenani, women voters outnumbered their male counterparts,” said Udhampur deputy commissioner Ravinder Kumar.

Kumar informed that one EVM had to be replaced following a technical snag.

Kathua deputy commissioner

Rohit Khajuria said his district recorded 80% turnout for 79 wards that went to polls on Wednesday.

He added that the district had a total of 54,994 voters of whom 43,658 excercised their franchise.

The CEO said that 544 polling stations were designated across the state for second phase with 270 polling stations in Kashmir Division and 274 in Jammu Division.

He said polling was held for 263 municipal wards that included 881 candidates in Jammu division and 148 in Kashmir.

He said the cumulative polling percentage till date is 47.2% with 67.7% voting recorded in Jammu division and 8.3% in Kashmir division in Phase 1 and Phase 2.

In the first two phases, he said 4,36,285 voters exercised their franchise out of a total of 9,33,000 voters who were eligible to vote for these two phases.

The four phase elections began on October 8 and will end on October 16.

MAXIMUM POLLING (84.6%) RECORDED AT REASI DISTRICT IN JAMMU DIVISION