This Couple Headed To Vote Straight From Their Wedding

A newly married couple arrived at a polling booth this morning, straight from their wedding, in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district to cast their vote for the national elections.

The bride, dressed in a red suit, and the groom, wearing an ivory kurta, carried voting slips as they stepped inside the polling booth.

"The wedding ceremonies take at least two-three days. We can take out at least ten minutes to cast vote, it is our right,"  Sourav Sharma, the groom, told news agency ANI.

"Voting is very important because we elect our representative for the next five years. If we make a mistake, we are to blame; not the leader." he said.

Manisha, the bride, standing by his side, also added, "Voting is important for a healthy democracy. We all should vote to ensure development in the country."

The voting for phase-2 for the national elections is being held today in 95 Lok Sabha seats across 11 states and one in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Two constituencies in the northernmost state, Jammu and Kashmir, are polling today - Udhampur and Srinagar.

Over 16.85 lakh people in Udhampur are eligible to cast their vote. The constituency is spread over 17 assembly segments in six districts - Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, seeking re-election in Udhampur, is among the 12 candidates contesting in the constituency. 

The Congress has fielded Vikramaditya Singh, the grandson of erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh, against BJP's Jitendra Singh.

Harsh Dev Singh of the JKNPP and Lal Singh of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan are the other candidates.

In Srinagar, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah is seeking re-election. He is among the ten candidates contesting from the state capital.

The voting, which began at 7 am, will continue till 6 pm. Votes will be counted on May 23.

(With inputs from agencies)