'We hope our vote will lead to a better tomorrow'

A high polling percentage of about 71 percent was recorded in the 18 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir that went to polls on Tuesday in the second phase of the 5 phase assembly elections.

The percentage is up by 1 percent than the first phase which recorded a poll percentage of 70 percent in 15 constituencies across the state.

Chief Electoral Officer, Umang Narula told a media conference that constituencies that went to polls on Tuesday were spread over 5 districts for which as many as ­­­186 polling stations were set up, which included 143 critical ones.

Army foiled an infiltration bid in the morning at the Line of Control in the frontier Kupwara district as the people were queuing up outside polling booths to cast their votes.

“Three militants were killed in the encounter,” a defence spokesman said. “The effectiveness and robustness of the counter infiltration grid established by the Army all along the Line of Control was proven once again with the elimination of 3 heavily armed terrorists.

On the night of December 1/2, the infiltration bid in the Tut Mari Gali Sector was detected and eliminated along the LoC near the Shamshabari Ridge,” the spokesman said.

Tuesday’s election would decide the fate of the separatist turned mainstream politician, Sajad Gani Lone who is contesting from the Handwara constituency. Sajad created a flutter in the states political circles by calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last month.

Sajad is pitted against Chowdhary Ramzan, a ruling National Conference stalwart and consumer affairs and public distribution minister.

From early morning, people began to queue up outside polling stations in north Kashmir’s Kupwara town and south Kashmir’s Kulgam, braving the winter chill and the separatist’s boycott call.

Voters in large numbers turned out to exercise their franchise in the nine assembly segments of Kashmir valley spread on two districts of Kupwara and Kulgam.

A large number of voters including women queued up outside the polling stations in north Kashmir Handwara and adjoining Langate towns to exercise their franchise.

Many first time voters were among the first to cast their votes in Kulgam and in Handwara constituencies.

“We want a change and our vote will bring that change. Our area in Kulgam district has been neglected and hope our vote will lead to a better tomorrow,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a voter in Homshalibugh which witnessed a low poll percentage of 36.50 percent.

There were incidents of stone pelting and the constituency saw the separatist’s poll boycott having some effect.

Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed  said the ongoing assembly elections are ‘a testing time for the people, as they would be not just electing their representatives for governance, but chalking out a new political and economic course for the state’.

Narula said that web casting was done in 178 polling stations and 296 digital and 216 video cameras were deployed.

He said that 199 micro observers and 10,296 poll personnel were deployed for Tuesday’s polling.

Narula said 175 candidates were in the fray for these 18 constituencies which comprised 15,42,737 number of electors including 818,025 male, 724,703 female and 9 third gender voters. 

Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in the 18 constituencies that went to polls.

Photographs: Umar Ganie