LIVE | J&K Polls: 56% voter turnout in Phase 2; voting peaceful, says CEO
The voting began at 7 am across the 26 Assembly constituencies amidst tight security arrangements
More than 56 per cent of 2.5 million voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling for 26 seats in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls on Wednesday (September 25).
The polling passed off peacefully, officials said.
Addressing a press conference, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said the second phase recorded a turnout of 56.05 per cent.
Pole said the percentage was tentative as polling was going on at some places like Hazratbal and Reasi.
Peaceful polling: CEO
He said the polling was peaceful and by and large smooth.
"The polling was overall peaceful. Some stray incidents like arguments, etc. took place, but there is no need for re-poll anywhere," he added.
Voting began at 7 am across the 26 Assembly constituencies amidst tight security arrangements, the officials said. They said these Assembly constituencies are spread over six districts – three in the Valley and as many in the Jammu division.
Voting held across 3,500 polling stations
The Election Commission of India (EC) had established 3,502 polling stations in these segments.
Security personnel comprising police, armed police and central armed paramilitary forces were deployed in strength around the polling stations. A multi-tier security blanket was thrown around each polling station to ensure the voting for the second phase is held in an atmosphere free of fear, officials said.
For the second phase, 157 special polling stations were established – 26 'pink polling stations' managed by women, 26 polling stations manned by specially-abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 border polling stations, 26 green polling stations and 22 unique polling stations, the officials said.
Foreign envoys’ visit
During the second phase, a 16-member delegation of foreign envoys visited the valley to witness the polls.
This is perhaps for the first time since the eruption of insurgency that international observers were allowed to witness the elections in the Union territory.
However, the move drew criticism from former chief minister Omar Abdullah who said the polls in Jammu and Kashmir were an internal matter of the country.
Live Updates
- 25 Sept 2024 4:45 PM IST
Foreign diplomats find J-K polls ‘very healthy, very democratic’
The members of a foreign delegation who are in Srinagar to observe the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir expressed satisfaction over the conduct of polls, with some of them saying the process looks comparable to how it happens in their own countries.
The Ministry of External Affairs has invited a delegation of diplomats from 16 countries, including the US, Norway and Singapore, to observe the exercise. The US deputy Chief of the Mission in Delhi Jorgan K Andrews said the voting process looked healthy and democratic.
“It is great to see the enthusiasm; it’s great to see Kashmiris out voting after a pause for 10 years. We are very excited to see the results. It looks very healthy and very democratic,” Andrews told PTI Videos at a polling station.
The US diplomat said the process was similar to how it happens in his country. “It is very comparable. In my country, we use schools as well for voting. So, it looks very similar,” he added.
South Korea diplomat Sang Woo Lim liked the idea of the Pink polling station, an initiative of the Election Commission of India where polling stations are managed by all-female staff.
“It is my first time here in Kashmir. I am happy to be here as a part of the MEA delegation. I see it is a beautiful place and people are very nice. It is special to witness how democracy works. This idea of a pink polling station is very ingenuous. It is a great way to attract more people to come to vote,” Lim added.
Singapore deputy head of the mission in Delhi Cheng Wei Wei Alice said it was wonderful to be part of the delegation observing the polls here.
“I am glad that all the voters showed up. That's wonderful to see. The process is very similar to how we conduct elections in Singapore. We use government buildings for polling stations so that it is easily accessible to voters,” she said.
Alice said the delegates were “very thankful to the MEA for organising this trip and allowing us to visit the polling stations”.
- 25 Sept 2024 4:41 PM IST
History in making: CEC Rajiv Kumar
CEC Rajiv Kumar has described the ongoing J&K Assembly polls as “history in the making”, saying people are standing in long queues outside polling booths at places where calls were once given to boycott the democratic exercise.
Taking to reporters in Delhi, Kumar said 100 per cent CCTV coverage is available for this phase and one could see youngsters, women and senior citizens patiently standing in queues, awaiting their turn to exercise their franchise.
“It is a festival of democracy. Voting is taking place in areas where it did not take place earlier.... There were calls for disruption and boycott in the past.... It is a standing ovation for democracy,” the CEC said in the presence of fellow election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Kumar said history is in the making in Jammu and Kashmir and its impact will be felt for a long time as he lauded the enthusiastic participation of the voters in the poll process.
- 25 Sept 2024 4:10 PM IST
Voter turnout at 46.12% by 3 pm
A voter turnout of 46.12 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the second phase of J&K polls, the Election Commission said.
The Gulabgarh (ST) seat in the Jammu region recorded the overall highest voting percentage at 65.57, followed closely by Poonch Haveli at 62.91, the EC data showed.
The maximum voting percentage among the 15 assembly segments in the Kashmir valley was recorded in Khansahib at 58.2. It was followed by Kangan (ST) at 56.55 per cent and Chrar-i-Sharief at 55.04 per cent.
The lowest 13.28 per cent voting was recorded in the Habbakadal constituency in Srinagar till 3 pm.
