Lok Sabha polls: Jammu records 68 per cent voter turnout

JAMMU: Bettering records of the previous five Lok Sabha polls, Jammu Lok Sabha seat today registered 68 per cent polling.

However, sporadic clashes were witnessed in which four persons were injured and in 4 polling stations people boycotted election.

"Around 68 per cent electorate cast their vote in today's polling for Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency which concluded this evening," Chief Electoral Officer, Umang Narula told reporters here tonight.

He further said that the poll turnout is likely to go up when entire process is compiled and completed.

Narula said 70 per cent votes were cast in Jammu district, 75 per cent in Samba district and figures of polling are being received from Rajouri and Poonch districts which would add up the final poll percentage tally subsequently.

In 2009, 49.71 per cent polling was recorded in Jammu Lok Sabha constituency. Today's polling is 18.29 per cent more than the polling percentage of last election.

He said the polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere and so far no untoward incident was reported from any part of the constituency.

The Chief Electoral Officer said 10,000 personnel were posted for election duty and 800 vehicles were used to ferry them and poll material.

He said the Election Commission had deployed five observers including three General Observers, one Expenditure Observer and one Police and Security Observer. Besides, he said the Commission has deployed 201 Micro Observers and webcasting of 60 booths was also done.

Narula said the Commission had set up 2,274 polling booths at 1,582 locations out of which 68 were declared as critical. He said 2,274 electronic machines were used for the purpose. He said video recordings were also done to ensure free and fair polls.

The CEO said 19 candidates were in the fray for the constituency which comprised 18,48,553 electors including 8,71,212 female and 97,7328 male voters.

In Gursia polling station in Mendhar teshil of Poonch district a clash broke out between polling agents of PDP and NC resulting in injury to one PDP worker, police said.

In Cherian polling station of Rajouri district, there were clashes between polling agents resulting in injuries to three persons.

In Poonch, people boycotted polling at four polling station of Mandi, Baila, Arichul and Marnote in protest against the inclusion of area in Surankote assembly segment, while the area has been a part of the Poonch Assembly segment in the past.

Senior district officials have rushed to the area to pacify the voters. No votes were polled in these polling stations, they said.