71% voter turnout in 2nd phase: CEO Lowest in Homeshalibugh, highest in Gulabgarh YOGESH SAGOTRA Jammu, Dec 2: The 18 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir which went to polls in the second phase of assembly elections Tuesday recorded a voter turnout of 71 percent, with Gulabgarh in Reasi district recording highest of over 80 percent polling and Homeshalibugh segment of Kulgam district finishing at lowest 36 percent, officials said. Official sources said owing to cold weather and foggy conditions, voting at many places started on a dull note but picked up by noon. “ In 2008, these 18 constituencies had recorded 68.79 percent turnout while in Lok Sabha elections ( in May), the average turnout there was 61%,” they said. Addressing a press conference here, J& K’s Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula said amid reports of stone- pelting in some parts of Kashmir, polling was recorded at lowest 36.50 percent in Homeshalibugh constituency in south Kashmir’s Kulgam See 71% voter district while Gulabgarh segment of Reasi district recorded highest of over 80.73 percent voting. Giving constituency- wise polling break- up, he said Karnah segment of North Kashmir recorded 75% polling, Kupwara ( 62%), Lolab ( 55%), Handwara ( 71%), Langate ( 71.64%), Noorabad ( 77.60 %), Kulgam ( 58.44%), Home Shalibugh ( 36.50%) and Devsar ( 60.03%). He said four polling stations in Kulgam recorded zero voter turnout “ after people in these areas decided to boycott against alleged discrimination with regard to development.” He said nine constituencies of Jammu region recorded an average of 75 .75% polling. “ Gulabgarh segment of Reasi district recorded 80.73 percent polling, Reasi ( 80%), Gool Arnas ( 80.28%), Udhampur ( 79.74%), Chenani ( 75.48%), Ramnagar ( 75.19%), Surankote ( 65 %), Mendher ( 72%) and Poonch Haveli ( 73.39%),” he said. Narula said that a total 6125 service voters also cast their votes in the second phase. He said the Election Commission had deployed 18 General Observers, five Expenditure Observers, four Police Observers, one Awareness Observer and 199 Micro Observers for the second phase in addition to 10, 296 polling staff. The CEO said 8 EVMs, 4 in Kulgam district, three in Reasi and one in Poonch were replaced after these developed a technical snag during polling. Narula disclosed that during campaign days, several observer teams seized Rs 16.33 lakh cash from Poonch district and 78 grams of heroin, which was believed to be “ pumped into influencing voters.” He said 76 liters of liquor were also seized in Udhampur and Reasi districts while five cases of paid news were also reported. The Election Commission, he said, had set up 2081 polling stations to facilitate 15, 42, 737 lakh electorate in 18 constituencies to elect their representatives from among 175 candidates, including eight women , in the fray. Narula said 143 polling booths were identified as critical and “ remained under grilled security cover.” He said at 296 polling stations, digital cameras were used for capturing pictures and 216 video cameras and close- circuit cameras were installed at various polling booths to video- graph the activities. “ Web- casting facility was provided at 178 booths,” he said and added that polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere across all constituencies and “ no untoward incident was reported from any part of the poll- bound constituencies.”
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:16:26 +0000
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