J&K municipal election: Jammu witnesses 78.6% turnout while Kashmir a dismal 3.4% in second phase 

New Delhi: The second of four-phased municipal election in Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a contrast voting patterns with Jammu registering voting of a total of 78.6 per cent of over 1.28 lakh voters and Kashmir as low as 3.4 per cent of 2.20 lakh voters. The state presented overall turnout of 31.3 per cent of voters in the second phase.

The first phase of polling that was carried out after 13 years has recorded 8.3 per cent voting in Kashmir valley and nearly 65 per cent in Jammu and Ladakh divisions. According to the election commission officials, the overall turnout in two phases are recorded with 67.7 per cent in Jammu and 8.3 per cent in Kashmir.

The four-phased voting is covering eight districts of Kashmir division including three wards of Srinagar, Leh and Kargil, and 17 cities and towns of districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch. Polling was held among 544 polling stations across the state.

The highest turnout is recorded at Reasi district with 84.6 per cent voting. Other districts including Kathua, Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar, and Doda have recorded turnout of 80 per cent, 79.53 per cent, 79.21 per cent, 74.75 per cent and 72.77 per cent respectively.

Sopore in north Kashmir has witnessed 6.1 per cent voting and Anantnag in south Kashmir has recorded voting as low as 1.1 per cent. However, Bandipora district recorded decent percentage of voting as 34.2 per cent.

The polling is being conducted with strict security measures considering threats from the militants to people participating in polls. A Bhartiya Janata Party candidate, Azad Singh Raju (62) died of heart attack at a polling station in Ramban district. He was a former employee of the department of irrigation and flood control.

The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Jammu & Kashmir have boycotted the election accusing government for not taking firm decision on protection of Article 35A. 

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