Overall polling percentage in the two parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Baramulla that went to polls in the first phase was recorded at 57.31 %.
Democracy defeated separatism on Thursday when over 34.61% of voters defied the boycott calls and exercised their right to franchise in the border district of Baramulla while Jammu recorded a turnout as high as 72.16% in the first phase of polls.
Overall polling percentage in the two parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Baramulla that went to polls in the first phase was recorded at 57.31 %.
While Jammu surpassed the 2014 turnout record of 69.24%, there was four percent dip in Baramulla, compared to 2014. Around 39.19 had cast their ballot in Baramulla in 2014 which came down to 34.61% in 2019.
Nine candidates are in fray in Baramulla constituency while 12 candidates are trying their luck in the Jammu constituency.
This time around major political parties replaced old candidates with new faces to woo the electorate. PDP replaced 2015 winner of Baramulla constituency Muzaffar Baig with employee leader and new entrant Abdul Qayoom Wani. National Conference too replaced 2014 runner up Sharif-ud-din Shariq by former speaker Mohommad Akbar Lone.
Peoples Conference fielded former Inspector General of police Raja Aijaz Ali while Congress fielded a new face Farooq Mir from Baramulla constituency. Former MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rasheed aka Engineer Rasheed, who is contesting as an independent, is giving tough contest to traditional parties in Baramulla constituency.
In Jammu, BJP reposed faith on his 2014 winner Jugal Kishore Sharma while Congress which was runner-up in last general elections replaced previous candidate ML Sharma by former minister Raman Bhalla. This time BJP rebel and Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan leader Lal Singh is contesting from Jammu constituency.
A large queue of people was seen outside the polling booths in most of the places in the two constituencies. Baring traces of boycott in certain pockets there was huge enthusiasm among the voters in Baramulla constituency.
From Kupwara to Uri to Baramulla, people were waiting from early morning to cast their ballots. Arif Ahmed, a first-time voter at Mawar in Langate assembly constituency of Baramulla Lok Sabha segment said his family had been boycotting the polls but this time they came to vote for our MLA. "Today our six members of family including me voted," Arif said,
Another youngster Ajaz Ahmad, voting for the third time in his life, said he is voting for a candidate who talks about popular issues. By 3 pm, over 17,000 votes were polled in the Langate assembly constituency which is part of Baramulla parliamentary constituency.
Contrary to bijli sadaq pani issues, the electioneering in Kashmir was dominated by the discourse over special status under Article 370 and Article 35 A.
Most of the political parties including National Conference and PDP were asking people to vote for them to preserve the special status of the state. The issue seemed to have struck chord with voters who came to polling booths to cast their ballot at least in the Baramulla constituency.
"People are well aware of the power of vote, we have gone through immense hardship to secure over selves universal adult franchise. Every single vote matters, and every vote should be caste for the identity, and integrity of our state; every vote should be caste to invigorate the secular outlook of India," said Farooq Abdullah, National Conference president.
J&K
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 "Lok Sabha Election 2019")
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