Update J&K polls: Second phase of Assembly polls records turnout of 56.05%, says polling official

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J&K Phase-2 elections live updates:  A voter turnout of 56.02 per cent was recorded in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said. The voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and is underway peacefully. The Gulabgarh (ST) seat in the Jammu region recorded the overall highest voting percentage at 65.57, followed closely by Poonch Haveli at 62.91, the EC data showed.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has said that alliance partner Congress should focus more on campaigning in the Jammu region where it has got the lion's share in the seat-sharing agreement with his party. "It is a good thing. I hope after Rahul (Gandhi) is done campaigning in one or two seats of Kashmir, he focuses on Jammu. Ultimately, what the Congress does in Kashmir is not that important, but what the Congress does in Jammu is important," Abdullah said. He was commenting on the visit of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha to Sopore town for an election rally in support of Congress candidates.
 

As the voting for Phase 2 in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will commence today, over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 seats. These assembly constituencies are spread over six districts three in the Valley and many in the Jammu division. "The Election Commission of India has established 3,502 polling stations in these segments to facilitate smooth and hassle-free electoral participation. There are 1,056 urban polling stations and 2,446 rural polling stations," an official said. According to officials, all polling stations will have webcasting facilities as part of the Election Commission's efforts to ensure transparency.

Ahead of Phase 2 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday claimed that the next government in Jammu and Kashmir will be secular. She further added that no government would be formed without gaining the support of her party. Mufti also responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "three families" remark and said that when the National Conference talked about joining Pakistan, it was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who held and raised the Indian flag high in Kashmir.

Hit by several deadly terror attacks in the past three years, the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch along with adjoining Reasi in Jammu will vote in the second phase of the assembly election. Adequate security arrangements have been put in place across all 11 assembly segments in the three hill districts to ensure a secure atmosphere for voters to exercise their franchise, officials said. The second phase, which also covers the three central Kashmir districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Budgam, will decide the fate of 239 candidates across 26 assembly segments including 79 in the Pir Panjal region of Jammu. Prominent among those in the fray from Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi include BJP's J-K unit chief Ravinder Raina, who is seeking his re-election from the Nowshera constituency, besides five former ministers including two fighting as independents and 10 ex-legislators.