New Delhi/Srinagar: Nearly 80 per cent of over 1.26 lakh voters exercised their franchise in Jammu while there was a low voter turnout yet again in Kashmir with 3.4 per cent of 2.20 lakh electorate casting their votes Wednesday in the second phase of municipal polls in the state, officials said.
People in Jammu division voted with full enthusiasm on Wednesday but in Kashmir the voter turnout was three per cent. An overall 70 per cent voter turnout was seen in three districts of Chinab Valley, Udhampur and Kathua districts.
About two per cent of the electorate voted in the first five hours of polling in 49 wards of urban local bodies in Kashmir Valley, officials said. Voting began in the Valley began at 6 am and continued till 4 pm.
The first of the four-phased municipal elections was held on Monday after a hiatus of 13 years.
But, two key parties in the state -- the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) -- have abstained from the elections.
Here are the highlights on Jammu and Kashmir civic body elections:
Oct 10, 2018 14:32 (IST)
A voter from Bandipora district said that they are voting in order to develop their region and get employment in the coming months. "We are voting for development. We want to get employed. It good that these elections are happening and I am happy that a lot of people are coming out to cast their vote," he said.
Oct 10, 2018 13:44 (IST)
Balwant Singh Mankotia, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, expressed satisfaction over the commencement of urban local body polls in the region. "These elections will surely bring some relief to people residing in the region. There are certain demands of people like solid waste management, traffic jams, water crisis, and electricity for 24 hours which voters are expecting to get fulfilled," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Oct 10, 2018 13:01 (IST)
The municipal poll process was now effective only in 11 districts of the state in the second phase -- six in Jammu division and five in the Kashmir Valley.
Oct 10, 2018 13:00 (IST)
Two lone candidates were declared elected unopposed in Kulgam and Badgam districts.
Oct 10, 2018 12:51 (IST)
The voting percentage was abysmally low in Baramulla, Srinagar, Kupwara and Anantnag with 1.1 per cent, 0.8 per cent, 3 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.
Oct 10, 2018 10:22 (IST)
Over 3,46,980 voters have been registered in the phase 2 polls, of whom 1,28,104 are in Jammu division and 2,18,876 in the valley.