J&K records 10.22% voter turnout in first two hours of elections

J&K polls phase 2: Long queues seen at polling stations during the second phase of Assembly polls

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) reported a voter turnout of 10.22% in the first two hours of polling on Wednesday, with voting starting at 7 a.m. across six districts. By 9 a.m., preliminary statistics from the Election Commission indicated varying turnout rates in different areas, with Budgam leading at 10.91%, followed by Reasi at 13.37%, Rajouri at 12.71%, Ganderbal at 12.61%, Poonch at 14.41%, and Srinagar trailing at 4.70%.

Polling stations in the Union Territory, which includes Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi in the Jammu division, as well as Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal in the Valley, displayed a festive atmosphere. Security forces, including local police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), interacted amicably with voters as they arrived at polling locations.

Approximately 25.78 lakh electors are eligible to cast their votes in this second phase of elections, which will run until 6 p.m. today. The Election Commission has established 3,502 polling stations across the six districts for this phase.

Prominent political figures, including former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC), JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra, and BJP J&K president Ravinder Raina, are actively participating in the electoral process. The NC and Congress are collaborating in a pre-poll alliance, with the NC contesting in 52 seats and Congress in 31. Notably, two seats have been left uncontested by the alliance—one for the CPI(M) in the Valley and another for the Panthers Party in Jammu.

In five Assembly constituencies, including Sopore in the Valley and Banihal, Nagrota, Kishtwar, and Doda, the two parties could not reach an agreement and have fielded candidates for a friendly competition.

Looking ahead, the third and final phase of the J&K Assembly polls is scheduled for October 1, with counting set to take place on October 8. Early voting trends suggest that turnout in this phase could be comparable to, or slightly different from, the first phase.

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