Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls: 57% turnout in peaceful Phase 2 polling

Enthusiastic voters swarmed most polling booths since the morning across 26 Assembly segments of Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday (September 25, 2024) and registered a voter turnout of more than 56% till 7 p.m., according to the Election Commission of India (EC). 

“There has not been any incident that a repoll is required. There were 3,502 polling stations and no polling booth had a voting percentage in single digits. In Srinagar, the polling percentage exceeded the Lok Sabha figures by over 5%,” J&K Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole said.

Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections phase II poll highlights

According to the EC’s data on poll turnout till 7 p.m., Reasi district recorded the highest voting percentage of 74.14% followed by Poonch (73.78%), Rajouri (69.85%), Budgam (61.31%), Ganderbal (62.63%) and Srinagar (29.24%). Srinagar has shown a marginal increase compared to the 2014 Assembly election when it recorded around 27% voter turnout.

“These elections are history in the making, the echoes of which will be carried through posterity. The valleys and the mountains, which had once witnessed fear and boycott, are now taking part in the democratic festivities, or Jashn-e-Jamhuriyat,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said in New Delhi.

The three districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi, closer to the Line of Control (LoC) and a centre of militant attacks this year, saw long queues outside polling stations. “I voted to safeguard my country’s interest,” Nitu Mia, a transgender voter from the Reasi segment said. Vaishali Sharma and Tavishi, first-time voters from Reasi, also expressed happiness over attaining the age to participate in the elections.

In the Kashmir valley, there were long queues outside the polling booths in Budgam and Ganderbal. However, voter response was subdued in many assembly segments in Srinagar district. The three generations of the Abdullahs —National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and the grandsons — voted in Srinagar. “We are hopeful that after October 8, there will be an NC-Congress alliance government in J&K,” Mr. Omar said after casting his vote.

NC Member of Parliament Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, who voted in Budgam, said, “Significance of voting has been well understood by the people. It is important voters make the right decisions. Right now, unity serves as our sole defense,” Mr. Mehdi said.

Tariq Hameed Karra, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president and candidate from Central Shaltengh Tariq Hameed Karra, said, “Growing anger over the removal of Statehood is evident.”

Enthusiastic voters in Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal voted over the issue of higher bills after installation of smart meters, reduction in ration quota at depots and failure to fill Government posts. “Lower-middle class has been crushed by the current regime. In the face of raging unemployment, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration has introduced a high-rate flat tariff for electricity, introduced property tax and reduced rice per person in ration depots,” said Nazima Ganai, a woman voter from the Eidgah constituency.