High Voter Turnout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Second Phase of Elections
The second phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a voter turnout of 57.31%, according to the Election Commission of India. The highest turnout was in Mata Vaishno Devi with 80.45%.
Voter Turnout by Region
| Region | Turnout (%) |
|---|---|
| Kangan | 72.18 |
| Ganderbal | 57.12 |
| Hazratbal | 32.39 |
| Khanyar | 26.9 |
| Habba Kadal | 19.81 |
| Lal Chowk | 34.15 |
| Chanapora | 29.53 |
| Zadibal | 30.78 |
| Eidgah | 36.95 |
| Central Shalteng | 31.84 |
| Budgam | 52.27 |
| Beerwah | 66.95 |
| Khansahib | 72.8 |
| Chrar-I-Sharif | 70.27 |
| Chadoora | 57.19 |
| Gulabgarh | 73.6 |
| Reasi | 72.6 |
| Mata Vaishno Devi | 80.45 |
| Kalakote-Sunderbani | 68.82 |
| Nowshera | 73.5 |
| Rajouri | 70.57 |
| Budhal | 70.4 |
| Thanamnadi | 72.88 |
| Surankote | 74.94 |
| Poonch Haveli | 74.56 |
| Mendhar | 73.56 |
The second phase took place on September 25 in six districts: Ganderbal, Budgam, Srinagar, Rajouri, Reasi, and Poonch.
Political Reactions
Union Minister JP Nadda responded to National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah’s statement blaming the central government for the lower turnout. Nadda said, “If one wants to see the poll percentage, it used to be 6 to 8 per cent but today it is 58 to 60 per cent. If he was bad in mathematics, what could I do?”
Omar Abdullah had said, “I was hoping for a little more turnout. Because there was no call for the boycott. There were no attacks. There was no attempt to suppress and threaten the voters. But I think the central government is also partially responsible for this situation.”
The first phase of polling was held on September 18 with a 60% turnout. The third and final phase is scheduled for October 1, and the counting of votes will take place on October 8. This is the first assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370.
Doubts Revealed
Voter Turnout -: Voter turnout means the percentage of people who actually go and vote in an election out of all the people who are allowed to vote.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in the northern part of India. It has beautiful mountains and is known for its scenic beauty.
Polling -: Polling is the process of voting in an election. People go to polling stations to cast their votes.
Mata Vaishno Devi -: Mata Vaishno Devi is a famous temple in Jammu and Kashmir. Many people visit it to pray.
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the central government in India who is in charge of a specific department or ministry.
JP Nadda -: JP Nadda is a politician in India. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has held various important positions.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been active in the region for many years.
Omar Abdullah -: Omar Abdullah is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir. He is the Vice President of the National Conference party.
Central Government -: The central government is the main government of India, which makes decisions for the whole country.
Abrogation of Article 370 -: Abrogation of Article 370 means that a special law giving Jammu and Kashmir more autonomy was removed. This happened in August 2019.
