SRINAGAR: The voter-turn out in the first phase of election in JK Assembly Polls was recorded to be 61 per cent while in 2014, it was 66 per cent. The statistics nullify the claims of higher participation in voting as the percentage has gone down.
The Assembly Polls are taking place in the valley after a decade in three phases on September, 18, 25 and October 1. After the first phase of polling in 24 seats, many claims were made that the participation was higher in elections. However, in many constituencies, the percentage of voters has decreased and the overall voter turn-out has also decreased.
NDTV reported, “In the 2014 assembly election, 66 per cent polling was recorded despite boycott calls and dismal participation in some urban seats.”
The participation in eight seats of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar remained unchanged mainly. In eight seats of South Kashmir, the polling percentage is lower than that in 2014. As per NDTV’s report, Pampore recorded 47 per cent in 2014 and 42 per cent in 2024, and Rajpora recorded 47 per cent in 2014 and 45 per cent in 2024. “The DH Pora seat had recorded 77 per cent turnout in 2014. It was 65 per cent this time. It was 63 per cent in the Dooru seat in 2014, while it was 57 per cent this time. Shangus, Anantnag seat had recorded 67 per cent voting in the last assembly elections, while this time it fell to 52 per cent,” stated the report.