Jammu and Kashmir polls: Nearly 13 per cent voters exercise franchise till 10 AM

JAMMU: Braving winter chill, nearly 13 per cent of the electorate today exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling in 20 constituencies in the final phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

"As many as 12.09 percent of voting has been registered in first two hours of polling till 1000 hours in 20 segments of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts", an official spokesman said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and four of his cabinet colleagues are among 312 candidates whose fate will be decided in the third phase of polling today in the 20 seats spread across Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts.

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

Despite cold weather, people were seen marching towards the polling booths and long queues of electorate were seen outside the polling booths to exercise their franchise.

In Bishnah constituency at polling station 27, out of the total 640 votes, 72 have already been cast in the first hour of polling. At polling Station 28, out of 706 votes, 81 have already been cast.

Similarly, in Suchategarh constituency, at polling station 23, out of 1009, 107 have already been cast, whereas, in polling station 28, out of 940 votes, 122 have already been cast during the first hour.

Giving details, the Elections officials said while Akhnoor border constituency in Jammu district witnessed the highest 19.26 per cent of the voters casting their ballot, Rajouri segment registered lowest 4.61 per cent voting.

R S Pura border constituency saw 19 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise, Nagorta 17 per cent while Raipur Domana saw over 16.69 per cent voters casting their ballot, Chhamb and Suchetgarh polled 16 percent each.

Similarly, Bani recorded 15.22 per cent, Hiranagar 15.02 per cent, Bishnah 14 per cent, Marh 12 percent, Kathua 11.71 per cent, Basholi 11 per cent, Billawar 10.25 and Gandhinagar and Jammu East polled 10 per cent votes.

Besides these, Jammu West and Noushera polled 9 per cent votes followed by 8.50 per cent polling in Darhal and 7.15 per cent in Kalakote.