Jammu and Kashmir Elections: 57% turnout recorded in Phase-2 polling, 20 of 26 seats see drop in tally

A security official stands guard as voters wait in a queue at a polling station to cast votes in Srinagar district on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

As many as 20 of the 26 Assembly seats that went to polls in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections on Wednesday saw a drop in voter turnout as compared to 2014, the last time polling was held in the erstwhile state, shows Election Commission’s data.

According to the Election Commission of India, the voter turnout in the second phase of polls was recorded at 57.03 percent – lower than the 61.13 percent polling seen in the first phase of elections. The 2014 figure stood above 60 percent in the Assembly segments in the six districts that went to polls on Wednesday.

A total of 26 constituencies across the six districts of Budgam, Ganderbal, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi and Srinagar went to polls in the second of the five-phase polls on Wednesday. Of these, 25 assembly segments in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts went to polls in the 2014 polls while the number increased by one seat to 26 in these six districts following the delimitation exercise in 2022.

The Kashmir conundrum

The Srinagar district, seen as a hotbed of separatism in the Valley, saw a mixed response from voters in this election, despite efforts by the Centre to increase the vote count in the second phase. The Srinagar district, which comprises eight Assembly constituencies recorded 29.81 percent turnout, the lowest among six districts that polled on September 25.

Three districts of Kashmir valley -- Ganderbal, Budgam and Srinagar -- collectively recorded an average voter turnout of 51.76 percent, significantly lower than the Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts in the Jammu region that recorded an average turnout of 73.15 percent.

Within Srinagar, the Habbakadal Assembly constituency recorded the lowest turnout of 19.81 percent. This, despite Kashmiri Pandits forming a majority of the voters in the constituency post-delimitation.

While five assembly segments in Srinagar district recorded a higher turnout than the 2014 polls, all other assembly segments in the five remaining districts recorded a lower voter turnout.

The separatism effect

The effect of separatism and its lingering effect was visible in the voter turnout as was the disenchantment among voters in the Valley, observed senior poll officials while speaking to NDTV. “Separatists had a major influence in urban areas of Srinagar, due to which, boycott calls were on people's minds even though there was none this time,” the report quoted an official as saying.

The numbers reveal a similar story of continued disenchantment among voters despite efforts by local parties and the central government to encourage voters to step out in larger numbers and exercise their franchise.

Hazratbal, for instance, saw 32.35 percent voting, marginally higher than 29.54 per of 2014 and 28.89 per cent of 2008.

Khanyar recorded a turnout of 26.08 percent almost at par with the figure of 26.16 percent in 2014 and 17.41 percent in 2008.

Zadibal saw 30.41 percent of votes being polled, higher than the figure of 23.93 percent seen in 2014 and 17.30 percent recorded in 2008.

Lal Chowk, a new constituency carved out after delimitation, saw a turnout of 31.40 per cent.

The Ganderbal district, which comprises the Kangan and Ganderbal Assembly constituencies also witnessed a low turnout,almost at par with the figure in 2014.

The two seats from where former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is contesting elections – Ganderbal and Budgam – saw a turnout of 56.6 percent and 51.09 percent this time. In 2014, the figures stood at 58.13 percent and 66.35 percent, respectively.

The Jammu region

The Reasi Assembly seat in the Jammu region recorded a voter turnout of 72.06 percent, Poonch Haveli saw 74.66 percent while Rajouri witnessed the lowest tally at 70.56 percent. Though impressive, the turnout stood lower than what was witnessed in 2014.

Nowshera, from where BJP leader Ravinder Raina was contesting, also saw a dip – 72 percent, lower than 81.41 percent in 2014 and 73.01 percent in 2008.

While Shri Mata Vaishno Devi segment in Reasi district recorded the highest turnout of 80.74 percent this year, it still fell short of the 82.68 percent turnout recorded in 2014 when the constituency was known as Gool Arnas.

the segment-wise turnout in Jammu division seats was Gulabgarh (73.49), Surankote (74.95), Reasi (72.06), Nowshera (72.00), Kalakote-Sunderbani (68.71), Poonch-Haveli (74.66), Rajouri (70.56), Budhal (70.14), Thannamandi (72.92) and Mendhar (71.60).

In the Kashmir valley seats, the turnout was Khansahib (72.04), Kangan (72.18), Chrar-e-Sharief (70.26), Chadoora (57.19), Ganderbal (56.60), Beerwah (66.94), Budgam (51.09), Hazratbal (32.35), Khanyar (26.08), Habbakadal (19.81), Lal Chowk (32.67), Channapora (29.50), Zadibal (30.41), Central Shalteng (31.83) and Eidgah (36.95), according to the EC data at the time of publishing this report.

(With Agencies)