Anantnag, April 29: As the polling for the second phase of the three-phase elections for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat ended on Monday, the Noorabad assembly segment recorded the highest turnout and the overall percentage in the Kulgam district was recorded 10.3%.
This was stated by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Shailendra Kumar, adding that ‘incident-free’ voting marked the second leg of three-phase polling for south Kashmir’s Anantnag Parliamentary constituency of Kulgam district with a total voter turnout of 10.32 per cent.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the CEO informed that the overall percentage recorded in the district during today’s polling was 10.3 per cent with the highest in Noorabad segment, recording at 20.58 per cent.
He said that for the smooth polling across the district, 433 polling stations were set up out of which 20 were model polling stations. Moreover 4 all women polling stations were also setup across the district.
Divulging the details of the voter turnout in the district, the CEO informed that the total number of votes polled was 35524 with highest turnout of 20.58 per cent recorded in Noorabad segment of the district. With the completion of the today’s phase, the overall poll percentage of Anantnag constituency has touched 12.35 per cent.
He further elaborated that the total percentage of voting till date in various parliamentary constituencies in the state including Baramulla, Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur and Anantnag was recorded at 47.06 per cent with total votes polled at around 3364104 out of 7149047 total electorates.
The CEO complimented voters, political parties, contesting candidates, media, polling staff and security forces for smooth and peaceful conduct of polling under IV Phases in the state.
Over 3.45 lakh electors were scheduled to exercise their franchise in Kulgam district of south Kashmir region, in the second leg of three-phased schedule for Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency on April 29, including 28761 first-time voters and 2870 migrant voters.
Regarding the health of E-rolls, the CEO said that 43 polling stations were setup for webcasting.
The candidates in the fray include former Chief Minister and Mehbooba Mufti of Peoples Democratic Party, Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Indian National Congress, Hasnain Masoodi of Jammu Kashmir National Conference, Sofi Yousuf of Bhartiya Janta Party, Nisar Ahmad Wani of Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party, Choudhary Zaffar Ali of Jammu Kashmir Peoples Conference, Sanjay Kumar Dhar of Manav Adhikar Party, Surinder Singh of Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) and Imtiyaz Ahmad Rather, Ridwana Sanam, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, Zubair Masoodi, Shams Khwaja, Ali Mohammad Wani, Gh Mohammad Wani, Kyasir Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Ahmad Khan and Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, all independents.
The CEO informed that two general observers, one expenditure observer, one police observer, 68 micro observers besides 1732 polling staff ensured the smooth conduct of the voting in this phase.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Kulgam district. The voting in Pulwama and Shopian districts will take place on May 6.
Isolated incidents of stone pelting reported from Kulgam
Srinagar, Apr 29 (PTI) Incidents of stone pelting took place, Monday, in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir where polling was underway for election to the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, police said.
“Isolated incidents of stone pelting near polling stations have been reported from various parts of Kulgam district but the situation was under control due to timely action of security forces,” a police official said.
He said there were no reports of anyone getting hurt in the stone pelting incidents.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama with 16 assembly segments.
The Lok Sabha polls to this constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons.
Pertinent to mention that the Election Commission curtailed the polling duration for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency by two hours following a request from the state police. The revised polling timing was from 7 am to 4 pm.
There were 18 candidates in the fray for Anantnag constituency, including PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti.
