Jahangeer Ganaie

Over 97 percent stay away from polls in Pulwama, Shopian

Over 97 percent stay away from polls in Pulwama, Shopian
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

Ladakh witnesses brisk polls

Shopian/Pulwama: The final phase of elections that covered the twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama a total of 2.16% polling was reported as voter’s proffered to stay away from the polls. However, a good voter turnout was recorded in Leh where polling was also held.
Although 64 per cent polling was recorded in Ladakh but the turnout was barely three per cent in militancy-infested Shopian and Pulwama districts in the final of the three-phase election to Anantnag constituency held amid militant threats and boycott call by separatists.
Militants also lobbed a grenade towards Rohmoo polling station and set off an explosion at another polling booth in Tral in Pulwama but no one was injured in the two incidents.
The overall turnout was 8.76 per cent as against 28.54 per cent in 2014 in Anantnag where 18 candidates are in the fray including PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti.
Enthusiastic voters started pouring out to throng the polling stations in Leh and Kargil districts since early morning on Monday.
Polling started at 7 a.m. in both the Lok Sabha seats, but ended at 4 p.m. in Anantnag constituency and 6 p.m. in Ladakh constituency, officials said.
Pulwama witnessed the lowest turnout with the total 0.7% per cent, followed by Tral with 1.09% per cent.
The highest turnout was reported in Pampore with 5.26% per cent votes polled, followed by Rajpora with the total votes polled touching 1.6% per cent.
In Shopian 3.90 per cent, while in Wachi 1.37 per cent voters cast their votes during the day long polling exercise.
Notably, District Pulwama comprises four assembly segments of Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora.
In Rajpora Assembly segment which had the highest number of 95,633 electors including 49,808 males, 45,738 females and 87 male service voters only 1572 persons exercised their franchise while as in Pampore which has the lowest 82,188 electors, including 41,929 males, 40,230 females, 24 male service voters and five transgender voters 4323 persons casted their votes.
In Tral assembly segment which has 88,617 electors 45,637 males, 42, 650 females, 329 service voters (324 male and 5 female) and single transgender voter, only 963 persons cast their votes while as in Pulwama assembly segment which has 84,876 electors, including 43885 males, 40,890 females and 101 service voters (98 male and three females) just 654 persons cast their votes.
Similarly, Shopian District has 171,216 electors including 89,868 males, 81,227 females, 116 service electors (113 male and 03 female) and five transgender voters.
For smooth polling, the ECI had set up 245 polling stations in Shopian district while as in Pulwama 450 polling stations were set up. All the polling stations were marked as ‘Hyper sensitive’.
In Wachi assembly segment which has 83,532 electors including 43,848 males, 39,614 females, 66 service voters (63 males and 3 females) and four transgender voters, 1431 votes were polled while as in Shopian assembly segment which has 87,684 electors, including 46,020 males, 41,613 females, 50 male service voters, and a single transgender voter, only 3517 persons exercised their franchise.
The main candidates in the fray for this Parliamentary seat were Mehbooba Mufti of PDP, Hasnain Masoodi of National Conference and G.A Mir of Congress.
Meanwhile clashes erupted at many places of Tral, Pulwama and Shopian segments of twin districts besides grenade attack at Rohmoo, Tikin and Chatpora area of Pulwama.
However, no one was reported injured during the blasts. However, police sources said that six youth suffered minor injuries during police action to disperse the protestors.
Interestingly, most segments in the twin districts reported zero poll. In Pulwama segment 66 polling booths witnessed zero polling, in Rajpora 57 witnessed zero polling, in Pampore 20 polling stations witnessed zero polling while as in Tral 90 stations witnessed zero polling.
Similarly, out of 245 polling stations in Shopian district 131 booths witnessed zero polling which include Watchi’s 74 and 57 booths in Shopian.


Jahangeer Ganaie

Jahangeer Ganaie is a reporter and covers regional news and can be contacted [email protected]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *