J&K Polls: Nearly 10% voting recorded till 10 a.m

Moderate to brisk voting was today recorded in the first couple of hours in the nine seats in Jammu and as many in Kashmir Valley with boycott calls by separatists and militants and the cold weather failing to dampen the enthusiasm of voters who queued up in large numbers.

Nearly 10% of the 15.35 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling while serpentine queues could be seen at many polling stations as voters waited for their turn.

In the second phase of the five-phase Assembly elections, a total of 15.35 lakh eligible voters would decide the fate of 175 candidates, including four sitting ministers of the coalition government.

As per the Election Department, there has been over nearly 9.72% polling recorded in the state till 1000 hours today.

Reasi Assembly segment has recorded the highest number of 19.95% polling, followed by Udhampur with 18.76%, Gool Arnas with 18.04%, Gulabgarh with 17.99%, it said.

Similarly, Ramnagar Assembly segment recorded 16.96% polling, Chenani with 11.38%, Mendhar with 11%, Noorabad and Lolab with 10.50% each, Surankote with 9.85, Karnah with 9%, Poonch Haveli with 8.80, Kulgam with 8.18, it said.

However, lowest polling took place in Home Shalibugh 1.20% followed by Langate 3.50%, Kupwara and Handwara with 4% each and Devsar with 4.5%.

Enthusiastic voters queued outside polling stations in Udhampur, Poonch, Chenani, Ramnagar and Reasi constituencies, while the voter turnout was low in morning in Gulabgarh, Gool Arnas, Mendhar and Poonch Havelli constituencies of the Jammu region.