Over 65% turnout in fifth phase of J&K polls

December 20, 2014 08:33 am | Updated April 07, 2016 05:10 am IST - Jammu/Srinagar

Voters wait in  queues to cast their vote at Pooling station during Assembly elections in Jammu Gandhi Nagar Jammu and Kashmir saturday 20, December 2014.  PHOTO/ SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.


Voters wait in queues to cast their vote at Pooling station during Assembly elections in Jammu Gandhi Nagar Jammu and Kashmir saturday 20, December 2014. PHOTO/ SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.


The fifth and final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir ended peacefully on Saturday, with over 65 per cent of the voters casting their ballot in 20 constituencies, officials said.

“Polling ended peacefully in all the 20 constituencies of Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua districts at 4 p.m. today (Saturday),” an Election Commission official said.

Initial figures indicated that 65 per cent voters turned up to exercise their franchise till the voting process ended.

“However, these figures are subject to variation as final reports about poll percentages are still coming in. The day’s poll process was peaceful,” the official said.

A total of 213 candidates were in the fray. Eleven constituencies voted in Jammu, four in Rajouri and five in Kathua district.

Counting for all the 87 assembly seats will be held December 23.

At many places, voters lined up at polling stations much before the start of the voting time at 8 a.m.

Despite the cold weather, long queues of people were seen outside polling booths.

Jitendra Singh votes

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who stood in a queue for over half an hour here, exercised his right of franchise and thanked the people for coming out in large numbers to vote.

“I thank the people who are coming out in large numbers to vote. It is a victory for democracy and defeat of all other forces against the democratic process,” he told reporters at a polling station in Gandhinagar.

Speaking to the media, District Electoral Officer, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu said polling is going on peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

“People are coming out in large numbers to vote amid tight security arrangements. Over 200 security companies have been deployed. We hope for a large turnout today”, Sahu said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and four of his Cabinet colleagues are among 312 candidates whose fate will be decided today.

Bani constituency

Giving details of polling held till noon, elections officials said while Bani constituency in Kathua district witnessed the highest voting percentage of 41, Jammu East segment in the heart of Jammu city registered the lowest of 19.20 per cent voting.

R S Pura border constituency saw 38 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise and Nagorta 34 per cent while Raipur Domana saw over 33.28 per cent voters casting their ballot. Chhamb and Suchetgarh polled 32 per cent each.

Similarly, Hiranagar registered 30.47 per cent voting, Bishnah 28 per cent, Marh 38.28 per cent, Kathua 34.19 per cent, Basholi 27 per cent, Billawar 29.88 and Gandhinagar 24 per cent and Jammu West polled 25.80 per cent votes.

Besides these, Noushera polled 25.24 per cent votes followed by 27.21 per cent polling in Darhal and 20.65 per cent in Kalakote, Rajouri 28.04 and Akhnoor polled 38.52 per cent votes.

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