LS Elections-2024: Brisk polling of 53% recorded in Anantnag-Rajouri seat

Approximately 67% polling in Poonch district | District Rajouri recorded 69.35% turnout in 4 ACs

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, May 25: Addressing reporters at the conclusion of the polling process, Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K Pandurang Kundbarao Pole said that the 53% voter turnout has been recorded in Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency for which election was held on Saturday.
Out of 11 Assembly Constituencies of Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, Rajouri constituency has recorded highest 69.63% polling while Kulgam Assembly segment recorded the lowest poll percentage of 32%.
Barring a minor incident of clash between two political group at Shahpur polling station in Poonch district, in which 4 persons were injured, and a minor incident in Bijbehara, the polling remained peaceful in the entire constituency.
Pertinently, this election was the first major election in the UT of J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019.
It is pertinent to mention here that Anantnag-Rajouri PC is the only constituency in UT of J&K which fall in both the division i.e. Kashmir & Jammu having 18.36 voters, including 9.02 lakh women, who exercised their franchise at 2,338 polling stations across the constituency.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, applauded the democratic spirit displayed by the people of J&K for reposing faith in democracy and proved naysayers wrong.
In Anantnag-Rajouri constituency three major communities namely Kashmiris, Gujjars and Paharis (who recently got ST status) have decided the fate of 20 candidates including former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), and former Minister, Gujjar & religious leader, Mian Altaf (NC).
Apni Party’s Zafar Iqbal Manhas was also among the 20 candidates in the fray.
About 40 % of migrant Kashmiri Pandits also participated in the voting process in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency as they cast their votes in 34 polling stations including at Jammu, (21), Udhampur (1) (4) and 8 auxiliary stations.
The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency recorded a 53-per cent voter turnout on Saturday, the highest voter turnout recorded in Jammu and Kashmir in 40 years.
In the old Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, the turnout in 2019 was around 9 percent while it was close to 29% in 2014.
According to details provided by the Election Commission, the Surankote, Rajouri, and Budhal Assembly segments recorded the highest turnout of 68%, he said.
Meanwhile, District Election Officer Rajouri, Om Parkash Bhagat said that the polling for 4 Assembly Constituencies, including Rajouri, Nowshera, Budhal & Thanamandi, of the district held successfully with 69.35% turn out.
“Despite ongoing heatwave, a large number of voters came out to exercise their rights.149 Central Forces and 52 companies of police were deployed for the security. CA security,” said DEO.
He added 68.90% polling was recorded from Nowshera AC; 69.63% from Rajouri; 69.48% from Budhal and 69.35% from Thanamandi constituency till 7 pm.
542 polling stations were established in the district for 389721 electorates (including 202809 males) while 2710 officials were deployed in polling parties in addition to security deployment.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar , ADGP Jammu , Anand Jain along with other senior officers/officials also reviewed the polling process at various polling stations in Rajouri district.