Srinagar: With regular terror threats and boycott calls from separatists and major political parties like the National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, bringing locals to polling stations now seems like a Herculean task for the local administration in Kashmir region.
In the first phase, the turnout in the Valley bought a sigh of relief with 12% Kashmiris coming out to franchise their right in the Valley, but the scenario in the second phase was quite different. At a time when the administration was hopeful of an increase in poll percentage, with a peaceful and terror-free conduct in the first phase, the final turnout left the administration astounded. The poll graph in the Valley saw a steep decline with a mere 3.4% Kashmiris turning to the polling centres.
The five districts of Kashmir division witnessed voting of 3.4%, which saw a decline of 8.6%, which is a huge number citing the average turnout in the Valley. Anantnag, which saw 7.3% of the poll count in the first phase, fell down to a mere 1.1%. Bandipora, on the other hand, witnessed a double jump with a polling percentage of around 35.6%.
Jammu region saw a rise in voting percentage with around 78% Jammuites exercising their franchise. In comparison to the first phase, Jammu saw a rise of 13.6% which is remarkable keeping in view far-flung areas like Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban in the list.
The state, on the whole, witnessed an overall turnout of 31.3% which is 25.6% less than the first phase whereas Jammu and Kashmir witnessed turnout of 56.7%. The Election Commission also decided to announce holding fresh elections in Ward No.2 of Ramban due to death of a BJP candidate. “He was in tension after misuse of money and alcohol to influence voters”, alleged BJP MLA Neelam Langeh.