70% in Udhampur, 14.8 in Srinagar

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 18

In the second phase of the parliamentary elections today, Udhampur recorded 70 per cent voting, while Srinagar 14.8.

The polling was, in general, peaceful barring a few places in the Srinagar constituency where incidents of stone-throwing were reported.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, told a press conference here this evening that the poll percentage might be higher as reports from various areas were still coming in. He said Udhampur district had a high poll percentage of 69.8, while Srinagar district recorded the lowest poll percentage of 7.96.

“The polling was peaceful and there were no reports of any violence anywhere,” Shalendra Kumar, CEO said.

However, there were reports of stone-throwing from various parts of the Srinagar constituency in Kashmir during the polling. The CEO was accompanied by the IG Police, Kashmir range, SP Pani, and Returning Officer, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.

The Srinagar seat recorded 14.8 poll percentage which has been double compared to over 7 per cent in the violence-hit byelections in 2017.

The CEO said the Banihal Assembly segment of Ramban district in Udhampur and Eidgah segment in Srinagar district and constituency recorded the lowest poll percentage. The highest poll percentage of Reasi district in Udhampur constituency of the Jammu region was 73.2, while Budgam district in Srinagar parliamentary constituency recorded the highest poll percentage of 21.5.

Giving details, the CEO said the total number of voters in the two constituencies was 29.6 lakh, including 15.4 lakh males and 14.1 female voters. In all, 4,426 polling stations were set up for the purpose in the two constituencies, while 21 were set up for migrant voters.

The electorate included 1.5 lakh first-time voters, of whom 1.2 lakh voters were in the age group between 18 and 21.

There were 25 all-women polling stations and 149 model polling stations set up for voting in both the seats.

Meanwhile, District Election Officer, Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana, on Thursday suspended a presiding officer and a teacher for violating the model code of conduct. Aghazahid Rehman, presiding officer of a polling station at Charosou in the Inderwal Assembly segment, was suspended for not performing election duty with due care and responsibility.

Largely peaceful 

• The polling was, in general, peaceful barring a few places in the Srinagar constituency where incidents of stone-throwing were reported

• The Srinagar constituency recorded 14.8 poll percentage which has been double compared to over 7 per cent in the violence-hit byelections in 2017. 

• The total number of voters in the two constituencies was 29.6 lakh, including 15.4 lakh males and 14.1 female voters