Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir recorded 48.2 % voter turnout in the second phase of District Development Council (DDC) election today, State Election Commissioner KK Sharma said.
In the first phase of DDC polls held in the Union Territory, held on Saturday, 51.76% voter turnout was recorded.
While addressing a press conference here, SEC Sharma said that a large number of people came out to cast their votes during the second phase. Long queues were seen right from the morning, despite severe cold conditions in Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu division.
Polling was peaceful in all 43 constituencies of DDC. A total of 3,77,401 voters including 2,01,792 males and 1,75,609 females out of 7,95,118 voters, voted to choose their representatives in their respective councils, the SEC said. He also informed that polling was held on 2,142 polling stations including 1,305 from Kashmir division and 837 from Jammu division.
The SEC further said that the Jammu division recorded an average voter turnout of 65.54% with Poonch district recording the highest percentage of 75.07% followed by Jammu district with 69.97%. The lowest turnout in Jammu division was in Kathua district which recorded 60.10%. The Kashmir Division recorded 33.34 % voter turnout. Bandipora district recorded highest polling at 69.66 %, followed by Kupwara district at 58.69% and Ganderbal with around 49.14% polling in the second phase of elections.
Giving the district wise detail, the SEC said that in Kashmir Division, the polling percentage recorded in Budgam was 43.51%, Srinagar 33.78%, Kulgam 29.90%, Baramulla 28.95%, Shopian 17.28%, Anantnag 16.09%, and Pulwama 8.67%.
Similarly, in Jammu division, the poll percentage of 61.64% was recorded in Kishtwar, 64.80% in Doda, 66.23% in Ramban, 62.51% in Udhampur, 66.38% in Samba and 69.27 in Reasi and 60.21% in Rajouri.
Further, he said that counting of votes for Sarpanch and Panch constituencies, which went to polls in the second phase, is being conducted immediately after the close of polls and results shall be declared then and there only.
-ARK
