Kashmir districts see surge in assembly polling trends, better LS polls' voting percentage

Jammu, Oct 2: J&K has recorded around 70 percent polling in the third and final phase of assembly elections.

40 assembly segments of seven districts went to polls on October 1, thus also marking the culmination of three phased assembly polls, held after ten years in J&K.

As per revised estimates by the Election Commission of India (ECI), polling in phase-III of general elections to the Legislative Assembly of J&K recorded an approximate voter turnout of 69.65 percent.

“This is also likely to be updated by the field-level officers,” the ECI mentioned while revising estimates.

As per the last revised district-wise approximate polling estimates by ECI saw Udhampur district, comprising four assembly segments, in Jammu division recording the highest 76.09 percent voter turnout.

Baramulla district, comprising seven assembly segments, registered the lowest - 61.03 percent voter turnout.

The approximate voter turnout in Bandipora district, having three assembly constituencies, was 67.68 percent; in Jammu district, comprising 11 assembly segments, it was 71.40 percent; in Kathua district, having six assembly constituencies, voter turnout was 73.34 percent; in Kupwara district, with six segments, it was 66.79 percent and in Samba district, comprising three assembly constituencies, approximate voter turnout was 75.88 percent.

“(Revised) data is as per the information being filled in the systems by the field officer. This is an approximate trend, as data from some Polling Stations takes time and this trend does not include Postal Ballot,” ECI has mentioned.

As per earlier revised detailed ECI estimates, including comparative figures of voter turnout in Lok Sabha elections 2024 and assembly elections of 2008 and 2014, Kashmir districts have seen a surge in assembly polling (2024) trends as compared to last parliamentary (2024) voting percentage.

On the other hand, Reasi and Jammu districts, breaking the upward trend in the Jammu division, have registered a slight dip in comparison to the 2024 LS polls but the overall percentage (division) has spiralled up.

As ECI estimates are likely to be updated yet again, it is very likely that both these districts may correspond to the voting percentage recorded in LS polls of 2024 or may even go up.

The poll percentage in the first phase was 61.38 percent, in the second phase it was 57.31 percent and in the third and last phase, the poll percentage was 69.65 percent (tentative).

Overall assembly poll percentage has been registered around 64 percent (tentative). In the overall estimates, district Kishtwar recorded the highest poll percentage - 80.20 percent followed by Udhampur (76.09 percent), Samba (75.88 percent) and Reasi (74.68 percent).

As per revised ECI estimates, which may slightly go up further, all ten districts of Kashmir division have registered better poll percentages when compared to voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024.

However when tallied with 2014 assembly elections, districts of both Kashmir and Jammu division show a mixed trend.

In Kashmir division districts, Kupwara with 65.81 percent, Baramulla with 59.84 percent, Bandipora with 67.57 percent, Ganderbal with 62.83 percent, Srinagar with 30.08 percent, Budgam with 63.28 percent, Pulwama with 46.99 percent, Shopian with 57.01 percent, Kulgam with 63.14 percent and Anantnag with 57.90 percent improved performance while tallying with voting percentage recorded during LS polls in 2024.

In Parliamentary polls 2024, voting percentage was 63.43 percent in Kupwara, 54.49 percent in Baramulla, 60.33 percent in Bandipora, 52.50 percent in Ganderbal, 24.83 percent in Srinagar, 54.29 percent in Budgam, 41.59 percent in Pulwama, 43.88 percent in Shopian, 44.78 percent in Kulgam and 45.44 percent in Anantnag district.

In Lok Sabha polls of 2024, Kashmir division recorded (district-wise) an overall percentage of 45.44 against 57.90 percent registered in the assembly polls of 2024.

In the case of Jammu division districts, Kishtwar recorded 80.20 percent, Doda 71.32 percent, Ramban 70.57 percent, Reasi 74.68 percent, Udhampur 76.09 percent, Kathua 73.34 percent, Samba 75.88 percent, Jammu 71.40 percent, Rajouri 71.13 percent and Poonch 74.37 percent in just concluded assembly elections.

However, in LS polls of 2024, Kishtwar saw 66.59 percent, Doda 65.81 percent, Ramban 61.25 percent, Reasi 74.93 percent, Udhampur 69.44 percent, Kathua 69.53 percent, Samba 74.99 percent, Jammu 70.96 percent, Rajouri 69.16 percent and Poonch 68.74 percent.

ECI issued a formal poll schedule for J&K assembly elections on August 16, 2024. Polls for 24 assembly segments were held on September 18; the second phase for 26 assembly segments on September 25 and the last phase for 40 assembly constituencies concluded on October 1.