Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Sep 25: As the second phase of voting for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in 26 Assembly Constituencies concluded on Wednesday, the voter turnout across the Union Territory stood tentatively at 56 per cent, with Srinagar recording the lower voter participation with over 29.00 per cent only.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jammu and Kashmir, P K Pole, while addressing the media, said that voting across the 26 Assembly Constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir recorded a tentative percentage of 56.
However, Srinagar district witnessed the lowest voter turnout participation with a tentative percentage of around 29.00 per cent. Eidgah Assembly Constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 36.93 per cent while Habbakadal constituency recorded the lowest voter turnout in the district at 18.39 per cent.
According to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) voter turnout report, Reasi district has registered the highest voter turnout in J&K at 71.81 percent, closely followed by Poonch at 71.59 percent and Rajouri at 68.22 percent.
According to the voter turnout report, Budgam district in Kashmir is leading with a voter turnout of 58.97 percent, followed by Ganderbal closely at 58.81 percent.
Other assembly constituencies in Srinagar recorded the turnout percentages as, Central Shaltang 29.09 per cent, Chanapora 26.95, Hazratbal 30.65, Khanyar 24.00, Lal Chowk 30.44, and Zadibal 28.36 per cent.
Several voters from Central Shaltang, expressed their desire to vote to keep the BJP at bay and to address unemployment issues.
A total of 25,78,099 voters were eligible to vote in this phase, comprising 13,12,730 male voters, 12,65,316 female voters, and 53 third-gender voters. This phase will determine the fate of 239 candidates.
Pertinently, the first phase of voting was held on September 18 across 24 constituencies in seven districts. The third phase will take place on October 1, after which counting of votes is scheduled to be held on October 8.