J&K recorded 51.2 percent polling in 37 District Development Council (DDC) constituencies in the fifth phase of the elections on Thursday, as volatile south Kashmir continued to witness lower voter turnout.
"Over 51 percent polling was recorded in J&K in the fifth phase. The Kashmir division recorded 33.57 percent average voter turnout, while the Jammu division saw 66.67 percent," State Election Commissioner (SEC) K.K. Sharma said.
Mr. Sharma said the polling was peaceful and people participated enthusiastically despite severe cold conditions in Kashmir division and some hilly areas of Jammu division.
Nazneen Jan, a female voter, was among the first voters to reach the polling booth around 7:30 a.m. despite freezing temperatures in north Bandipora's Arin village, with the hills nearby covered with fresh snowfall.
"Besides the development issues, locals this time want to make a political statement too by not boycotting these polls. Kashmir is in a grip of difficult times. It has to end," Jan says.
Bandipora saw the highest polling at 56.40 per cent in the Kashmir valley followed by Kupwara at 52.35 percent and Budgam, 45.65 percent, Ganderbal 37.47 percent and Baramulla 44.31 percent.
In volatile south Kashmir, which even in the first four phases registered lower voter turnout, again saw poor turnout compared to other constituencies of the Union Territory (UT).
An official said Anantnag saw the highest 21.89 per cent in south Kashmir. "Kulgam registered 26.94 percent, Pulwama 8.12 percent and Shopian lowest 5.52 percent," officials said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, in a tweet, alleged that security forces have cordoned Matribugh in Shopian and were not allowing people to come out to vote under the pretext of inputs about presence of militants.
"In a brazen display of power, armed forces are being used to rig this election and favour a particular party," Ms. Mufti tweeted.
Thirty seven DDC constituencies, 17 in the Kashmir division and 20 in the Jammu division, saw polling on Thursday.
Highest turnout in Jammu
Mr. Sharma said the Jammu division's Poonch District saw the highest poll percentage of 71.62 percent followed by Doda at 70.95 percent and Rajouri at 70.83 percent, Samba at 64.71 percent, Udhampur at 69.47 percent, Kishtwar at 68.27 percent, Ramban at 67.11 percent, Reasi at 69.15 percent and Kathua 62.36 percent.
"The lowest turnout in the Jammu division was in Jammu district at 60.24 percent," Mr. Sharma said.
Meanwhile, National Conference alleged that the Municipal Committee chairman, Ved Prakash Gupta, was allegedly beaten up by the BJP workers.
"The Committee sought immediate probe into the incident and arrest of the hooligans involved in the shameful act. This speaks volumes about the frustration in the BJP rank and file on the face of imminent defeat in the ongoing elections," a NC spokesman said.
