14.8%, one of lowest-ever, in Srinagar; Udhampur: 70%

Azhar Qadri & Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service
Srinagar/Jammu, April 18

The second phase of voting for two seats in Jammu and Kashmir — Udhampur-Doda, one of the two constituencies of Jammu division; and Srinagar, one of the three constituencies in the Valley — ended on a peaceful note with a turnout of 43.4 per cent.

While Udhampur-Doda constituency saw brisk voting, Srinagar recorded one of its lowest-ever turnouts.

All 17 Assembly segments in Udhampur-Doda constituency registered an overall 70 per cent turnout. Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts registered 70 per cent turnout, while Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts saw 65 to 70 per cent voting.

In Srinagar constituency, which recorded 14.8 per cent voting, only one of the 15 Assembly segments recorded above 30 per cent turnout. The turnout in Srinagar district was a dismal 7.96 per cent.

The two constituencies have a total electorate of 29.60 lakh with 12 candidates each in the fray. Two high-profile contestants — Minister of State (MoS) in PMO Jitendra Singh and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah — are in the fray for the two seats.

Singh, the incumbent parliamentarian from Udhampur, is seeking a second term, while Abdullah, a three-time former Chief Minister and incumbent MP, is contesting for his fourth LS term from Srinagar.

Zero vote in 90 booths

Srinagar: As many as 90 polling booths, mostly in downtown city, saw no voting for the Srinagar LS seat. PTI