INDIA VOTES 2024: Despite rain, 65% turnout in Udhampur

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, April 19

Despite inclement weather and heavy rain on Friday, substantial voting percentage of 65.08 per cent (till 5 pm) was witnessed in Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency — a seat where Union Minister Jitendra Singh is eyeing a hat-trick and Congress candidate Chaudhary Lal Singh is the main challenger.

Heavy rain started in the morning which deterred polling in the early hours. Polling started in the constituency having mountainous and tough terrain at 7 am. All the districts in the constituency, including Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, witnessed heavy rain till around 11.30 am. Over 8.44 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the initial two hours of polling in the constituency in a peaceful manner.

Interestingly, the voter turnout in 2019 Lok Sabha poll was 70.2 per cent while in 2014, it was 70.95.

Aged and first-time voters also turned out in large numbers at the polling stations. 102-year-old Kehar Singh from Shara in Kathua, who cast his vote at Middle School, Shara, in Basohli, became the centre of attraction for the people coming to vote.

After rain stopped for some time, the voting percentage increased considerably. Till 1 pm, the constituency had recorded 43.11 per cent polling. The constituency has a total of 16.23 lakh voters, including 8.45 lakh male and 7.77 lakh female voters. As many as 23,637 people with disability (PWDs) and 403 centenarians are also among the registered voters.

A total of 2,637 polling stations were established in the constituency. People along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district also thronged the 25 polling stations established close to the border. A total of over 11,000 polling staff, including reserve, were deployed in the constituency.

Every polling station was provided with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) besides wheel chairs. There were 19 polling booths manned by women (also called pink polling stations), 14 polling booths manned by specially abled persons and 17 looked after by youths. 20 green polling stations were also set up.