Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 25: The 2nd phase of voting in Central Kashmir concluded today peacefully under tight security, recording 48.27 percent voting which is down by 9 percent from the last Assembly elections held a decade ago.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P K Pole told a press conference here this evening that the second phase of elections were conducted in a peaceful manner and no incident was reported anywhere in the Jammu and Kashmir where re-polling needs to be done.
As far the Assembly constituency wise figures, in Kashmir, Pole said, Central-Shalteng recorded 29.09 percent voting, Chanapora 26.95, Eidgah 34.65, Habba Kadal 18.80, Hazratbal 30.66, Khanyar 24.00, Lal Chowk 30.44 and Zadibal 28.36 per cent.
“Beerwah registered 62.50 per cent voting, Budgam 47. 18, Chadoora 54.16, Charar-e-Shareef 66 per cent and Khansahib 67.70,” the CEO said. “Ganderbal recorded 53.44 percent voting and Kangan (ST) 67.60 per cent.”
Click Here To Join Daily Excelsior on WhatsApp And Get Latest News
Eidgah Assembly constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 36.93 per cent in Srinagar while Habbakadal constituency registered the lowest voter turnout in the district at 18.39 per cent.
As per the figures provided by the CEO, the voting percentage in Central Kashmir districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal accounted for 48.27 percent while the figures of the ECI for the three districts suggest that polling percentage was 57.01 percent in 2014. It has gone down by 9 percent today as compared to 2014 Assembly elections.
Click here to watch video
As per the ECI figures, in 2014, Srinagar district’s 8 constituencies recorded a poll percentage of 27.9% and today it recorded only 27.03%, down by 0.9 percent.
The ECI figures further suggest that in 2014, Budgam district’s 5 constituencies recorded a poll percentage of 74.2% and today it recorded only 58.97%, down by around 16 percent.
They suggest that in 2014, Ganderbal district’s 2 constituencies recorded a poll percentage of 68.95% and today it recorded only 58.81 %, down by around 10 percent.
The voting in almost all the polling stations across Central Kashmir started on a low note with no long queues witnessed as were in 2014. However, people came in smaller groups to cast their vote and the enthusiasm was surprisingly missing as was in the Lok Sabha elections.
The voters mostly highlighted the problems of basic necessities for which they said they were voting for with electricity bills and unemployment being main issues faced by the general masses.
Among the voters was the Abdullah family including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and his two sons Zameer Abdullah and Zaheer Abdullah. They arrived at Burn Hall School Polling Station in Sonwar area of Srinagar this morning to cast their vote.
Omar told reporters after casting his vote that he was hopeful that the NC-Congress alliance will win the majority of seats here and form the Government.
“I am repeatedly asked what my expectations are. No party or candidate fights elections to lose elections, so I am hopeful that more and more votes will be cast in favor of NC candidates. Where our Congress alliance is contesting, their candidates will get the votes. We are hopeful that the NC-Congress alliance will win the majority of seats here and form the Government,” he said.
The JKPCC President and party’s candidate from Shalteng-Central segment, Tariq Hameed Karra after casting his vote in the morning told reporters that people have realized the importance of Congress.
Karra said what the people decide will be in favour of Congress party. “Because we are fighting against the divisive policies of the BJP, both at the State and national levels. People have now realized the importance of Congress,” he said.
If any party is truly challenging the BJP in Jammu, Karra said, it is only Congress. “There is enthusiasm in Kashmir because of Jammu, and in Jammu because of Kashmir,” he said.
Apni Party chairman Altaf Bukhari after casting his vote at Mallinson Girls High School told reporters that the Assembly election will be a new beginning of prosperity in J&K.
“I congratulate the people for waiting for so many years to cast their ballot. I cast my vote. I am sure this election will be a new beginning of prosperity in J&K,” he said.
Asked what role his party is going to play in these Assembly elections, Bukhari said: “After 2019, the Apni Party has a very important one. It is not only what number of seats the party is going to win but what the leadership can give.”
The NC candidate from Kangan Assembly segment, Mian Mehar Ali after casting his vote said that the issues of employment, electricity, and drinking water need to be addressed.
Speaking to Excelsior after polling his vote, he said that these are matters that require urgent attention “There is also the issue of rising power bills, which needs to be addressed as well. The youth know what needs to be done; they have come out today, and we will ensure their concerns are addressed,” he said.
The NC candidate from Zadibal Assembly segment, Tanvir Sadiq told Excelsior that the people were fed up with the LG-led Government and were deprived of an elected Government for so long.
“It’s a good feeling to see people coming out to vote. We were deprived of an elected Government, and people were fed up with the LG-led administration; there was no accountability whatsoever,” he told Excelsior after polling his vote.
Syed Agha Muntazir Mehdi, PDP candidate for Budgam said that he would like to fulfill the duties that the people have entrusted to him by casting vote in his favour. “This vote is my first step towards that. The neglect that has been happening in the Budgam constituency for the last 20 years, I will end it. I am not against any person, but the love and responsibility that the people of Budgam have entrusted to me, no outsider or tourist can receive,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
