An estimated 46.12 percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 p.m., in 26 constituencies spread over six districts in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections phase two on Wednesday, a top official said.
Three of the districts which went to the hustings during the day are located in Jammu Division, and the rest in the Kashmir Valley.
In the Jammu division, the voting percentage seemed impressive as the day progressed with Gulabgarh constituency recording the highest polling figure at 65.57 pc, The voter turnout in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi 64.26 pc, in Surankote 62.95 pc, in Poonch Haveli 62.91 pc, Reasi recorded 61.83 pc, Rajouri 59.51 pc, Nowshera 59.24 pc, Thannamandi 59.9 pc and Budhal (59.18 pc) after eight hours of polling.
In the Kashmir region, Khansahib recorded highest (58.20 pc) turnout, followed by Kangam (56.55 pc), Chrar-i-Sharief (55.04 pc), Beerwah (51.25 pc), Chadoora (46.01 pc) Ganderbal (44.41 pc), Budgam (39.25 pc), Eidgah (29.0 pc), Zadibal (19.25 pc), Lal Chowk (24.22 pc), Central Shalteng (24.09 pc), Chanapora (22.20 pc), Hazratbal (25.0 pc), Khanyar (20.50 pc). In comparison, Habbakadal recorded the least 13.28 pc till 3 pm.
As polling started at 7 am, long queues of enthusiastic voters were seen waiting for their turn to exercise their right to franchise.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters in Jammu and Kashmir to use their franchise.
“I appeal to all voters that they must cast their votes and play an important role in strengthening democracy,” Modi said while greeting the first-time voters.
Over 2.5 million voters are eligible to choose their nominees from a pool of 239 candidates in the fray for the 26 seats in the second phase of the election underway in the Union Territory.
The polling in this phase will decide the fate of former chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah who is contesting from two constituencies – Budgam and Ganderbal. In Budgam, Omar is in up against against Peoples Democratic Party’s Agha Syed Muntazir, cousin of NC leader and MP Rullah Mehdi.
The fate of J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, who is trying his electoral luck from Nowshera, will also be decided in this phase.
The BJP chief is facing a tough challenge from former MLC Surinder Choudhary who is fighting the elections on an NC ticket.
The other prominent candidates in the race include Congress J&K president Tariq Karra from Central-Shalteng; Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari from Channapora, jailed cleric and separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay from Ganderbal and Beerwa, NC leaders Ali Mohammad Sagar from Khaniyar, Rahim Rather from Chrar-i-Sharief, BJP leaders Aijaz Hussain from Lal Chowk, Choudhary Zulfikar from Budhal and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari from Surankote.
More than 13,000 polling staff have been posted at 3,500 polling stations, as part of the multi-tier security blanket thrown to ensure the voting in an atmosphere free of fear. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held nearly after a decade.
The first phase was held on September 18 that recorded an impressive turnout of over 61 percent and the last phase is scheduled on October 1. The counting will take place on October 8.
