More than 56 per cent voters have exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling for 26 seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. The polling passed off peacefully, officials said.
Polling in Phase 2 of General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of J&K recorded an approximate voter turnout of 57.03% as of 11:45 pm
Addressing a press conference at the time of filing this report , J&K Chief Electoral Officer P K 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.
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.
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 J&K.
However, the move drew criticism from former chief minister Omar Abdullah who said the polls in J&K were an internal matter of the country.
Omar Abdullah later after casting his vote told ANI , “Today, polling for second phase is underway. Right now, as per the reports, voters are voting in large numbers. I am always asked what are our expectations. No candidate contests to lose. We expect that maximum votes today will go to NC candidates and where there is no NC candidate, we have Congress candidates in alliance with us and vote should be for them. We hope that after October 8, NC-Congress alliance government will work here.”
The highest turnout was recorded in the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi constituency, with 79.95 per cent of registered voters exercising their franchise. Other notable turnout figures included Kangan (71.89 per cent), Gulabgarh (73.49 per cent), and Surankote (75.11 per cent).
