Voters Brave Inclement Weather In J&K's Udhampur With Over 10% Turnout In First 2 Hours Of LS Phase 1 Voting

12 candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is seeking re-election for the third time is in the fray from this seat. 

Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency recorded a voter turnout of over 10 per cent in the first two hours of polling in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections despite torrential rains, said the election officials, according to a PTI report. 

 

Voting began at 7 am in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and is going on peacefully, said the officials adding that no untoward incident has been reported. 

 

12 candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is seeking re-election for the third time are in the fray from this seat. 

 

Other prominent figures in the fray include Congress leader and two-time former Member of Parliament Choudhary Lal Singh and the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led DPAP's G M Saroori besides Six independents.

 

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing its first major electoral battle after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. 

 

Voters were seen heading for polling stations before the start of voting braving inclement weather, said the officials, adding that over 11,000 polling staff, including reserve, have been deployed while security arrangements are foolproof to ensure free and fair elections.

 

Spread across an expansive area of 16,707 square kilometres, Udhampur consists of 18 assembly segments spanning five districts: Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua.

 

During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the constituency had recorded 70.2 per cent polling. The constituency was reshaped with three assembly constituencies of Reasi district carved out on the recommendations of the delimitation commission in 2022. 

 

Padder-nagseni and Inderwal recorded 13.84 per cent and 13.73 per cent voting, respectively till 9 am followed by Kathua (12.33 per cent), Udhampur East (11.93 per cent), Kishtwar (11.88 per cent), Ramnagar (11.31 per cent), Billawar (11.04 per cent), Hiranagar (10.70 per cent), Jasrota (10.67 per cent), Doda west (10.75 per cent), Doda (9.97 per cent), Ramban (9.71 per cent) and Udhampur West (9.08 per cent), said the officials.