J-K Polls: Officials say 54 % voting recorded till 5 pm in phase 2

Srinagar, Sept 25: The voter turnout in the ongoing phase two of the J-K Assembly Elections has been recorded at 54% till 5:00 pm on Wednesday, official data said.

"All the 26 assembly constituencies have recorded 54 percent voting till 05:00 pm," read an official communication from the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.

Voting began at 7 am and proceeded peacefully amid tight security. Officials data showed polling picked up pace quickly with nearly one-fourth of the eligible electorate exercising their franchise in the first four hours.Voters — men, women, elderly and youth — proudly displayed their inked finger after exercising their franchise as the polls are held without a shadow of boycott or militant threat.

The atmosphere at the polling stations was vibrant and the excitement was writ large as first-time voters, centenarians, and specially-abled people expressed their passion for democracy.

The assembly constituencies where polls are being held in the second phase are spread over six districts — three each in the Valley and the Jammu division.

The Ministry of External Affairs has invited 16 foreign delegates from New Delhi-based missions to observe the ongoing polls. The delegation visited polling stations in Budgam and Srinagar soon after their arrival in the Valley, and was briefed by the respective deputy Commissioners on the voting process.

However, the National Conference (NC), the regional force in J-K, criticised the visit of the foreign delegation, and lashed out at the Centre. NC vice president Omar Abdullah said the polls were an internal matter of India.

“I don’t know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments comment, then the government of India says ‘this is an internal matter for India’ and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections,” Abdullah told reporters here.

He said the assembly elections in J-K “are an internal matter for us”, and “we do not need their certificate”.

The NC leader said if India does not want the interference or comments of the foreign nations over J-K, “then why are they invited here?” He questioned the government on denying permission to foreign journalists to cover the polls.

“If foreign diplomats can be invited here, why are then the foreign journalists not permitted. No permission was given to any foreign journalist who had applied to cover the elections. But, these diplomats are being given a guided tour like tourists which is not a good thing,” he said.

The second phase of polling will decide the fate of 239 candidates including Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K who is contesting from two seats — Budgam and Ganderbal.

Apart from Abdullah, other key candidates whose fate will be determined in this phase include JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra and BJP J-K chief Ravinder Raina.