KL Report
SRINAGAR
Voting for the third phase of J&K Assembly Elections started in 16 constituencies falling in three Kashmir districts. Those whose fate would be sealed today include Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and 137 others.
Reports from the districts suggested massive security deployment to prevent any militant attack. Apart from police, 420 companies of CRPF battalions have been deployed as army is conducting patrols. Blockade of traffic in three directions of city has created a strike-like situation in the city where not enough public transport is seen.
Polling is being held for Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan (Baramulla) Chadoora, Badgam, Beerwah, Khansahib and Charar-e-Sharief (Badgam) and Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora (Pulwama). Omar is contesting from Beewah in Budgam.
This phase involves a total of 1369102 voters, including 19575 migrant voters. Baramulla has the highest number of 2567 migrant voters followed by Gulmarg 2513, Rajpora 2371, Tral 1445, Pulwama 1192, Pampore 1041, Budgam 1012, Chrar-e-Sharief 892, Rafiabad 837, Sangrama 807, Beerwah 699, Chadoora 692, Pattan 610, Khansahib 602, and Uri 333 voters. Postal ballot stations are set up at Udhampur, Jammu and Delhi.
However, only 8168 migrant voters are going to exercise their right of franchise. Migrant voters are supposed to fill M Form to cast vote. Election Commission has established 114 special polling booths on 20 locations at Jammu, four polling booths in Delhi NCR and one polling booth at Udhampur to facilitate the migrant voters to cast their vote.
The low polled Sopore has the highest number of 15 candidates followed by Rafiabad and Pattan with 12 each, Baramulla has 11, Sangrama and Pulwama 10 each, Gulmarg, Charar-e-Sharief and Rajpora 8 each, Chadoora, Badgam and Tral 7 each, Beerwah, Khansahib and Pampore six each and lowest five in Uri. Baramulla continues to be the biggest constituency with 825 polling stations ands 5,91,875 voters.
Despite severe cold, people were seen marching towards the polling booths and long queues of electorates were also seen outside the polling booths to exercise their franchise.
In Baramulla’s Sopore constituency, polling station No-4, 70 votes were polled so far, at Polling station No-2, 58 votes, at Polling station No-3, 96 votes while in Pattan constituency, at Mirgund 91-B, 71 votes have been polled so far, Mirgund-90-A, 84 votes, Polling station No-88 Mirchimar, 66 votes, Polling station No-89-BMirchimar, 73 votes, Polling station No-106 Mirchimar, 81 votes, Polling station Chenebal 93-A, 188 votes, Polling station Chenebal-94, 120 votes, Polling station Singhpora 85-A, 106 votes, Polling station Singhpora 86-B, 111 votes, Polling station Singhpora-57, 122 votes have been polled and at Tangmarg constituency, Polling station Chandilora, 84 votes have been polled so far.
In Budgam district, at Beerwah constituency, polling station Magam 25-D, 60 votes have been polled, polling station Magam 24-C, 56 votes and Chadoora, Nagam BHS, 130 votes have been polled so far.
In Pulwama district, at polling station Pahoo 33-A, 70 votes, polling station Pahoo 24-B, 30 votes, polling station Pinglana 40-B, 86 votes while in Pampore constituency at polling station Kakpora A, 85 votes, polling station Kakapora-B, 48 votes and polling station Kakapora-C, 104 votes have been polled so far.
