Srinagar: Notwithstanding the spurt in terror attacks and election boycott call given by separatists, third phase of the five-phased Legislative Assembly elections in 16 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a remarkable voter turnout. Several seats, including Uri constituency - where eight Army personnel, three policemen and six foreign terrorists were killed in an encounter on December 5 - recorded a remarkable voter turnout.
Besides taking into preventive custody about 400 known trouble makers and former militants and supporters of boycott call by separatists, unprecedented security arrangements ensured that voting was peaceful with more that 58 per cent of the eligible electorate coming out to press the EVM buttons in 16 Assembly constituencies, spread over three districts after a dull start due to morning chill.
Even though the voting percentage of the third phase was less than the previous two, but if compared to 2008 Assembly elections, the voter turnout was remarkably high, especially in hardliner Hurriyat Conference Sayed Ali Shah Geelani's hometown Sopore.
Sopore constituency, which in 2008 Assembly election recorded just 19.95 per cent polling, witnessed a voter turnout of 30 per cent. Meanwhile, Tral constituency, which in the last election recorded 48.69 per cent voting, witnessed a decline of over 11 per cent in the voter turnout following two grenade attacks in the last 4 days, which left two civilians and a security personal dead.
The 16 constituencies spread over three districts Budgam, Pulwama and Baramulla in Kashmir are considered a stronghold of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which in 2008 elections managed to win nine seats while National Conference (NC) bagged four constituencies. Congress, Peoples Democratic Front and an Independent won one seat each.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula said around 58 per cent electorate cast their vote in Tuesday's polling for the third phase of Assembly elections across 16 constituencies spread in three districts of the state.
He said over 73 per cent voter turnout was recorded in five constituencies of central Kashmir district of Budgam.
Budgam district holds the high profile Beerwah seat from where Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC Working President Omar Abdullah is trying his luck after he decided not to contest Assembly elections from his family political bastion Ganderbal fearing rout from the constituency. Beerwah, which in the last Assembly elections recorded 57.17 per cent polls, witnessed a voter turnout of 70.14 per cent.
Even though Beerwah is a stronghold of PDP since the creation of Mufti-led party in 2002, Omar hopes that his government's decision to not extend the lease of Tosamaidan firing range to Army would help him in securing the seat. The NC working president is also contesting from Sonawar constituency in Srinagar district.
In 2002, Assembly constituency was won by PDP's Mohammd Sarfaraz Khan while in 2008 the seat was again retained by the party after Shafi Ahmad Wani won. Wani is seeking re-election for the second time from the constituency.
Another important seat for the ruling NC is Chrar-e-Sharief, which recorded a voter turnout of 82.14 per cent, against 74.87 per cent in 2008 Assembly elections. Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, who is seeking re-election from this constituency for the fourth time, could be in for a surprise as during the Lok Sabha elections NC trailed from the seat for the first time in nearly 40 years to the PDP.
The Khansahib constituency, which recorded 74.58 per cent of polling in the last election, witnessed a voter turnout of 73 per cent. The constituency is likely to see a duo between Peoples Democratic Front Hakim Mohammad Yasin, who is seeking re-election for the third time, and separatist-turned-PDP candidate Saiduddin Bhat.
Meanwhile, Budgam constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 70 per cent. NC candidate Aga Roohullah is seeking re-election from this constituency.
Chief Electoral Officer Narula said seven constituencies of Baramulla district in total recorded a voter turnout of 57 per cent.
Uri constituency, where eight Army personnel, three policemen and six foreign terrorists were killed in an encounter on December 5 which ensued after a 'fidayeen' attacked an Army camp, witnessed a voter turnout of 79 per cent. Congress leader and Health Minister Taj Mohiuddin, who is seeking re-election for the third time, is likely to face a tough competition from his PDP counterpart.
Gulmarg, which in 2008 recorded a voter turnout of 59.80 per cent, witnessed a voter turnout of 72 per cent. Even though Democratic Party Nationalist and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir is seeking re-election for the third time from the constituency, NC candidate and Omar Abdullah's uncle Mustafa Kamal is likely to give him a tough fight in Gulmarg. Kamal has represented the seat in 19787 and 1996, but lost to Mir in 2002.
He said Rafiabad recorded 63 per cent voter turnout while 56.15 per cent electoral exercised their franchise in Sangrama. In Baramulla constituency, 45 per cent voters exercised their franchise while Pattan recorded 60 per cent voter turnout.
He said four constituencies of Pulwama district recorded a total voter of 42.45 per cent. Pampore recorded 46.48 per cent, Pulwama 38.31 per cent while Rajpora recorded 47.06 per cent voter turnout.
The Chief Electoral Officer said 16 Assembly constituencies that went to polls on Tuesday were spread over three districts for which as many as 1781 polling stations were set up, which included 129 critical, 577 hypersensitive and the rest as sensitive ones.
The CEO added that 144 candidates were in the fray for these 16 constituencies which comprised 13, 69,102 electors including 7, 17,839 male and 6, 51,245 female voters besides 18 third gender voters.
Narula informed that web casting was done in 111 Polling Stations while at 118 polling stations digital and at 133 polling stations video cameras were installed for free, fair and smooth conduct of polls.
He said that 16 General Observers, 4 Expenditure Observers, 3 Police Observers, One Awareness Observer besides 268 micro observers and about 11200 poll officials were deployed for the smooth conduct of polls.
Elaborate arrangements were made to facilitate voters to exercise their franchise in a free and fair atmosphere adding that the polling percentage may increase after consolidation of figures, he added.
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