Voting Picks up in Kashmir

KL Report

SRINAGAR

The turnout picked up in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls on Tuesday as more and more men and women queued up at polling stations to cast their votes.

In the Kashmir Valley, the turnout was low in the initial hour due to the winter cold, but it gained momentum as the day progressed.

Voters could not come out in large numbers in south Kashmir’s Devsar, Homeshallibugh, Noorabad and Kulgam constituencies initially.

However, men and women lined up in all the five polling stations in Handwara town. Many of the voters said they were voting for “change”.

In the neighbouring Langate constituency also, voters queued up in Kargama, Langate and other polling stations.

The highest voter turnout – 19.95 percent – in the first two hours was recorded in Reasi constituency, while the lowest of around 2 percent was witnessed in Homeshallibugh. An average of 15 percent voting was seen across the 18 constituencies.

Voters in Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar and Reasi constituencies, as well as in Gulabgarh, Gool Arnas, Mendhar and Poonch Havelli constituencies of the Jammu region waited patiently for their turn to vote.

In the north Kashmir Kupwara district also where polling has begun for five constituencies, the voter turnout was low in the morning. But polling improved later on.

The Election Commission has set up 2,181 polling stations for this phase.

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