The second phase of J-K assembly polls records turnout of 57.03 pc , the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a press release.cent voters on Wednesday exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling for 26 seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. The polling passed off peacefully, officials said. Addressing a press conference here, J&K Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said the second phase recorded a turnout of 57.03 per cent.
54.11% Voter Turnout Was Recorded In The Second Phase Of The Assembly Election In Jammu And Kashmir
The overall voter turnout recorded in these six districts that went for polls in Phase 2 have also surpassed the turnout recorded in Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Commission of India.
District-Wise Approximate Voter Turnout in Phase – 2
The ECI said that Budgam recorded 62.98 percent voter turnout till 11.45 pm, Ganderbal recorded 62.51 percent voter turnout, Poonch recorded 73.80 percent voter turnout, Rajouri recorded 70.95 percent voter turnout, Reasi recorded 74.70 percent voter turnout and Srinagar recorded 29.81 voter turnout. ECI said that the data displayed here is as per the information being filled in the systems by the field officer. This is an approximate trend, as data from some polling stations (PS) takes time and this trend does not include Postal Ballot.
Young voters reflected the aspirations of peace, democracy and progress as first time
voters proudly showcased their inked fingers after voting. A total of over 1.2 lakh electors
are in the age of 18-19 for phase 2.
Voting percentage upto 5:00 pm : 54.00% in Phase 2
Heading towards a huge voter turnout, all the 26 assembly constituencies have recorded 54 percent voting till 05:00 pm, communicated the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.
Voting percentage 46.12 upto 03:00 pm in Phase 2
The highest voter turnout in Phase II of the JK Assembly elections 2024, up until 3:00 PM, was recorded in Gulabgarh at 65.57%, followed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi with 64.26%. The overall voting percentage stood at 46.12%.
36.93% Polling Recorded In All 26 Assembly Constituencies Till 1 PM
With polling for 2nd Phase of General Elections to J&K Legislative Assembly receiving huge momentum, all polling stations of 26 Assembly Constituencies across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir have recorded an impressive 36.93 percent voter turnout till 1 pm communicated the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.
Voter Statistics for Phase 2 JK Assembly Elections 2024
- Total Voters
- Total Eligible Voters: 25,78,099
- Male Voters: 13,12,730
- Female Voters: 12,65,316
- Third-Gender Voters: 53
- Youth Voters (Aged 18 to 19)
- Total First-Time Voters: 1,20,612
- Male First-Time Voters: 11,294
- Female First-Time Voters: 10,065
- Special Categories
- Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) Voters: 19,201
- Voters Aged Above 85: 20,880
Candidates in Phase 2
- Srinagar District: 93 candidates
- Budgam District: 46 candidates
- Rajouri District: 34 candidates
- Poonch District: 25 candidates
- Ganderbal District: 21 candidates
- Reasi District: 20 candidates
District-Specific Details
- Rajouri District
- Total Electorates: 4,92,008
- Male Voters: 2,56,215
- Female Voters: 2,35,786
- Third-Gender Voters: 7
- Polling Stations: 745
- Poonch District
- Total Registered Voters: 3,52,330
- Male Voters: 1,80,584
- Female Voters: 1,71,74
Key Constituencies and Candidates in Phase 2 of JK Assembly elections 2024
This phase of the elections saw fierce competition across 26 Assembly constituencies. The districts covered included Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam in the Kashmir division, as well as Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch in the Jammu division.
Notable candidates in this phase included National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah, contesting from both Ganderbal and Budgam. Other prominent names included NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, former Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, former Speaker Mubarak Gul, and Apni Party Chief Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari. The race also featured former Ministers Aasia Naqash and Ghulam Nabi Hanjoora, as well as separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (Barkati), who contested from Ganderbal and Beerwah.
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BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina (Nowshera), former Ministers including Zulfkar Choudhary (Budhal), Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari (Surankote), Shabir Khan (Thannamandi) and Aijaz Khan (Gulabgarh); and ex legislators Vibodh Gupta (Rajouri), Baldev Sharma (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi,Katra), Javed Rana and Murtaza Khan (both Mendhar), Choudhary Qamar (Thannamandi), Surinder Choudhary (Nowshera), Aijaz Jan and Shah Mohammad Tantray (both Poonch), Mumtaz Khan (Reasi) and Choudhary Akram (Surankote) and many other prominent faces including NC’s Javed Choudhary (Budhal) are in fray for second phase in the Jammu division.
Security and Polling Arrangements
To ensure the elections proceeded smoothly, elaborate security measures were implemented. Over 7,000 polling staff and a large number of security forces were deployed at 1,838 polling stations set up across 15 Assembly constituencies in Central Kashmir.
A multi-tier security arrangement was in place, involving personnel from the police, armed forces, and Central paramilitary units. Sensitive areas were closely monitored, with additional forces deployed to prevent any disturbances. Roads leading to polling stations were closed off to ensure smooth transportation of polling material, including electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The EC worked tirelessly to ensure that voters could participate without any disruptions. Special arrangements were made to facilitate smooth polling in both urban and rural areas.
Election Commission’s Efforts Phase 2 of JK Assembly elections 2024
The Election Commission took several measures to encourage voter participation and streamline the election process. A total of 3,502 polling stations were established for this phase, with 100% webcasting to ensure transparency. These included 1,056 Urban Polling Stations and 2,446 Rural Polling Stations.
In a bid to encourage inclusivity, 157 special polling stations were set up. These included 26 Pink Polling Stations, managed entirely by women, and 26 Polling Stations manned by specially-abled individuals. There were also 26 Youth-Managed Polling Stations, 31 Border Polling Stations, 26 Green Polling Stations, and 22 Unique Polling Stations, all aimed at increasing voter engagement.
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Campaigns by Political Parties | JK Assembly elections 2024
The concerns expressed by the voters are in sharp contrast to the campaigns run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The star campaigners for the BJP, including Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have maintained that there is no way Article 370 of the Constitution can be restored. They have also warned people that if the NC-Congress alliance comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism would return to the Union Territory.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made several populist promises during his party’s poll campaign but his focus was on restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.
The NC and the PDP have also laid stress on restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as the two regional parties have said they do not want to cede space to communal forces.
In August 2019, the BJP-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370, which bestowed special rights on Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories.
Foreign Diplomats observe Phase 2 of JK Assembly elections 2024
The members of a foreign delegation who are here on Wednesday to observe the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir expressed satisfaction over the conduct of polls, with some of them saying the process looks comparable to how it happens in their own countries.
The Ministry of External Affairs has invited a delegation of diplomats from 16 countries, including the US, Norway and Singapore, to observe the exercise.
Focus on Kashmiri Pandit Voters
A significant aspect of this phase was the focus on displaced Kashmiri Pandit voters. For years, these voters have faced challenges in participating in the electoral process due to displacement. The EC’s efforts to provide special polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur, and NCR Delhi were widely appreciated by voters and political parties alike.
A per media reports, among the 15,400 displaced Pandit voters, 14,500 are registered in Jammu district while 900 are registered at Udhampur and Delhi. The Habakadal constituency in Central Kashmir district of Srinagar which has a multi corned contest has highest number of 6000 displaced Pandit voters.
Reaction from Political Parties In Phase 2 of JK Assembly elections 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to voters in Jammu and Kashmir to use their franchise as the second round of polling in the Union Territory began. “I appeal to all voters that they must cast their votes and play an important role in strengthening democracy,” Modi said while greeting the first-time voters.
National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah Wednesday lashed out at the Centre for inviting foreign diplomats to observe the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the polls were an internal matter of India and “we do not need their certificate”. “I don’t know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here,” the NC vice president told reporters here. “When foreign governments comment, then the Government of India says ‘this is an internal matter for India’ and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections.” This “guided tour” is not a good thing, he said, alleging the Centre wants to take credit for the people’s participation in these polls “which is a betrayal with the people here”.
Apni Party Chairman Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday said the assembly election will be a new beginning of prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. “Thanks to Almighty that the day at last came and I cast my vote,” Bukhari, whose fate will be sealed today, told media persons in Srinagar on Wednesday.
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