Kulgam limps to cross 2 digit voter turnout mark
Srinagar/Kulgam: Considered as a highly volatile region in south Kashmir, an almost incident free polls marked the second leg of three-phase polling for south Kashmir’s Anantnag Parliamentary constituency of Kulgam district with a total voter turnout of 10.32 per cent, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Shailendra Kumar informed on Monday.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the CEO informed that the overall percentage recorded in the district during Monday’s polling was 10.3 per cent with the highest in Noorabad segment, recording at 20.58 per cent.
He said that for the smooth polling across the district, 433 polling stations were set up out of which 20 were model polling stations. Moreover, 4 all women polling stations were also setup across the district.
Divulging the details of the voter turnout in the district, the CEO informed that the total number of votes polled was 35524 with highest turnout of 20.58 per cent recorded in Noorabad segment of the district. With the completion of the today’s phase, the overall poll percentage of Anantnag constituency has touched 12.35 per cent.
He further elaborated that the total percentage of voting till date in various parliamentary constituencies in the state including Baramulla, Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur and Anantnag was recorded at 47.06 per cent with total votes polled at around 3364104 out of 7149047 total electorates.
The CEO complimented voters, political parties, contesting candidates, media, polling staff and security forces for smooth and peaceful conduct of polling under IV Phases in the state.
It may be recalled, over 3.45 lakh electors were scheduled to exercise their franchise in Kulgam district of south Kashmir region, in the second leg of three-phased schedule for Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency on April 29, including 28761 first-time voters and 2870 migrant voters.
Noorabad assembly segment recorded the highest turnout and the overall percentage in the Kulgam district was recorded 10.2%.
As many as 15663 (20.5 per cent) in Noorabad, 15160 (16.6 per cent) in Devsar, Kulgam 1684 (1.7 per cent) and Homeshalibugh 891 (1.1 per cent) exercised their franchise on Monday, officials said.
The candidates in the fray are Hasnain Masoodi of Jammu Kashmir National Conference, Sofi Yousuf of Bhartiya Janta Party, Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Indian National Congress, Mehbooba Mufti of Jammu Kashmir People’s Democratic Party, Nisar Ahmad Wani of Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party, Ch. Zaffar Ali of Jammu Kashmir People’s Conference, Sanjay Kumar Dhar of Manav Adhikar Party, Surinder Singh of Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) and Imtiyaz Ahmad Rather, Ridwana Sanam, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, Zubair Masoodi, Shams Khwaja, Ali Mohammad Wani, Ghulam Mohammad Wani, Kyasir Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Ahmad Khan and Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, all independents.
The polling began at 7 a.m. and ended at 4 pm.
Kulgam Assembly segment has the highest number of 98,298 voters (51,051 males, 46,818 females, 455 service voters and 4 transgender voters) while as Noorabad has the lowest 77,171 electors, including 40,093 males, 36,886 females, 188 service voters and 4 transgender voters.
Assembly segment of Devsar has 91288 voters (47467 males, 43324 females, 492 service voters and five transgender voters), and HS Bugh segment has 78669 voters (40996 males, 37576 females and 127 service voters).
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Kulgam district and internet services remained also snapped in southern Kashmir.
The polling also witnessed some minor clashes. Reports said that clashes erupted at many places of the Kulgam district and about six youth were injured in retaliatory action by forces.
Witnesses said that clashes erupted at Kujjer, Qaimoh, Ashmuji, Bogund, Naibugh and other areas of the district where youth pelted stones on the forces deployed for election duty.
They said that forces retialated with tear smoke and sound shells and pellet firing which resulted in injuries to about 6 youth.
Sources said that two youth received pellet injuries on face and both were shifted to SMHS for specialized treatment.
The duo were identified as Zahid Shafi and Waseem Ahmad, both residents of Kujjer Redwani Kulgam.
Jahangeer Ganaie
