Jammu-Kashmir Election Phase 2: 56% Turnout Amid Peaceful Polls, Mata Vaishno Devi Seat Logs Highest Voting

Jammu-Kashmir Election Phase 2 concluded with a 54% turnout till 5 pm, according to the ECI. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in the Jammu region recorded the highest voting. Habbakadal saw the lowest turnout.

Srinagar: People wait in queues to cast their votes at a polling station during the second phase of Assembly elections, in Srinagar, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.

Source : PTI

Voting for the second phase of Jammu & Kashmir's assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Wednesday, with a voter turnout of 56 per cent recorded, according to the J-K Chief Election Officer (CEO). The voting began at 7 am amid tight security and proceeded peacefully across the six districts involved.

The total turnout recorded was 56.05 per cent across 26 seats. The polling process was peaceful and smooth, with only minor incidents reported, according to J&K Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole, news agency PTI reported.  

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in the Jammu region recorded the highest voting percentage at 75.29, followed by Poonch-Haveli with 72.71 per cent, Gulabgarh (ST) at 72.19 per cent, and Surankote at 72.18 per cent, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) data. In the Kashmir Valley, the maximum turnout was in Khansahib at 67.70 per cent, followed by Kangan (ST) at 67.60 per cent and Chrar-i-Sharief at 66 per cent. However, Habbakadal saw the lowest turnout, with only 15.80 per cent recorded till 5 pm.

Following is the Seat-wise turnout till 5 pm:

S No	District	District Wise Turnout	Constituency	Constituency Wise Turnout
1	Budgam	58.97%	Beerwah-28	62.50%
2	Budgam		Budgam-27	47.18%
3	Budgam		Chadoora-31	54.16%
4	Budgam		Chara-i-Sharief-30	66%
5	Budgam		Khansahib-29	67.70%
6	Ganderbal	58.81%	Ganderbal- 18	53.44%
7	Ganderbal		Kangan(st)- 17	67.60%
8	Poonch	71.59%	Mendhar(st)- 90	69.67%
9	Poonch		Poonch Haveli-89	72.71%
10	Poonch		Surankote(st) -53	72.18%
11	Rajouri	70.95%	Budhal(st)-86	70.14%
12	Rajouri		Kalakote-Sunderbani- 83	68.71%
13	Rajouri		Nowshera- 84	72%
14	Rajouri		Rajouri(st)-85	70.56%
15	Rajouri		Thannamandi- 87	72.92%
16	Reasi	71.81%	Gulabgarh-56	72.19%
17	Reasi		Reasi-32	69.09%
18	Reasi		Shri Mata Vaishno Devi- 58	75.29%
19	Srinagar	27.62%	Central Sheltang-26	29.09%
20	Srinagar		Channapora- 23	26.95%
21	Srinagar		Eidgah-25	34.65%
22	Srinagar		Habbakadal-21	15.80%
23	Srinagar		Hazratbal -19	32.34%
24	Srinagar		Khanyar-20	24%
25	Srinagar		Lal Chowk -22	30.44%
26	Srinagar		Zadibal-24	28.36%

Jammu-Kashmir Election Phase 2: Key Candidates In Fray, Security Arrangements

The first phase of the elections took place on 18th September, while the third and final phase is scheduled for 1st October. A total of 239 candidates are contesting in this phase, including Omar Abdullah, a former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state, who is running from both Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies. Key candidates also include Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra, who is contesting from Central Shalteng, and BJP's Jammu and Kashmir chief Ravinder Raina, seeking to retain his Nowshera seat.

Voters across the region were seen enthusiastically participating, with men, women, the elderly, and even first-time voters displaying their inked fingers proudly after casting their ballots. The elections were held without any significant threats or calls for boycotts, a marked shift from previous years.

A multi-tier security system was deployed across the 3,502 polling stations, which included 1,056 urban and 2,446 rural stations, to ensure a peaceful voting atmosphere. Security personnel from the local police, armed police, and central armed paramilitary forces were stationed at polling centres to maintain order.

Jammu-Kashmir Election Phase 2: 16 Foreign Delegates Observe Voting

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) invited 16 foreign delegates from New Delhi-based missions to observe the elections. The delegation visited polling stations in Budgam and Srinagar and was briefed by local deputy commissioners. The foreign diplomats expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the polls, with some likening the process to those in their home countries.

Speaking to PTI, US Deputy Chief of Mission Jorgan K Andrews praised the democratic process in Kashmir, saying, "It is great to see the enthusiasm; it's great to see Kashmiris out voting after a pause of 10 years. We are very excited to see the results. It looks very healthy and democratic." He added that the voting process was "very comparable" to the system in the United States, where schools are also used as polling stations.

VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir polls, 2nd phase polling: "It's amazing, we have never seen a floating polling station before and this is incredible," says Jorgan K Andrews, Deputy Chief of Mission of US Embassy in India, on his visit to a polling station on Dal Lake in Srinagar.… pic.twitter.com/FgXulzhPLr

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024

 "It's amazing, we have never seen a floating polling station before and this is incredible," Jorgan K Andrews said on his visit to a polling station on Dal Lake in Srinagar.

South Korean diplomat Sang Woo Lim was particularly impressed with the Election Commission's initiative of setting up Pink polling stations, staffed entirely by women. "It is a great way to attract more people to come to vote," Lim told PTI. This is his first visit to Kashmir, and he praised the warmth of the people and the beauty of the region.

VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir polls, 2nd phase polling: "It's a first time that I am visiting this part of the region. It's very impressive to see this floating (polling) station. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before ever in my life," says Sang Woo LIM, Deputy Chief… pic.twitter.com/PLhXPpQGSH

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024

Singapore’s Deputy Head of Mission Cheng Wei Wei Alice also commended the process, noting the similarities with elections in Singapore, where government buildings are used for polling. She expressed gratitude to the MEA for facilitating the delegation’s visit to observe the elections.

VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir polls, 2nd phase polling: "...we're very grateful for this opportunity," says Alice Cheng, Deputy High Commissioner at Singapore High Commission in India, on her visit to a polling station on Dal Lake in Srinagar.#JammuKashmirElections2024

(Full video… pic.twitter.com/bG5fwhOyZj

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024

However, the visit by the foreign delegation drew criticism from the National Conference (NC). Omar Abdullah, vice president of the NC, questioned the need for foreign observers, stating, "I don’t know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments comment, then the government of India says 'this is an internal matter for India,' and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections." He also questioned why foreign journalists were not granted permission to cover the elections, while diplomats were given what he described as "a guided tour like tourists."

The second phase of voting covered 26 assembly seats spread across six districts in Jammu and Kashmir. In Srinagar district, polls were held in Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Central Shalteng, and Eidgah. In Budgam district, the constituencies were Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharief, and Chadoora. Ganderbal district had two constituencies: Kangan (ST) and Ganderbal. In the Jammu division, voting took place in Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (in Reasi district), Kalakote-Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST) (in Rajouri district), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli, and Mendhar (ST) (Poonch district).