Srinagar Records 36.8% Voter Turnout, Highest In Decades (image: twitter.com/ECISVEEP)
As the fourth phase of voting for General Elections 2024 ended, the Srinagar Lok Sabha Constituency in Jammu and Kashmir (UT) has recorded a voter turnout of 36%. This is the highest since 1998, which has recorded 30.06% when the insurgency in J&K was at its peak.
The Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K Pole said that the polling percentage is highest considering the past three decades. Overall, polling was peaceful, and no negative event had happened in campaigning nor in the poll day, he added. Notably, not even a single polling booth has witnessed zero percent polling in Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency.
In a maiden election after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Central Government, the valley has reported significant increase in voter turnout including in the urban regions. In urban areas of Srinagar constituency, the poll boycott calls had a greater resounding due to influence of separatist leaders.
The voter turnout has increased from 14.4% in 2019 elections, while it was recorded 7.1% in 2017 by-polls. The highest poll percentage in Srinagar constituency was in 1996, which has recorded 40.94% when the first election was held in the region.
Meanwhile, the leaders of National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged official interference during the polls by claiming that some of their party workers and polling agents were detained during polling hours. The CEO PK Pole, however, rejected the allegations and said that it was preventative measures for peaceful conduct of polls. The other Assembly segments in Union Territory, Chadoora, Chah-i-sharief, Ganderbal, Kangan, Khansahib and Shopian has recorded more than 45% of the voter turnout.
The polling was held in 2,135 polling stations across five districts and 18 assembly segments with live webcasting at all polling stations. More than 8,000 polling staff were on duty to cater to the over 17.47 lakh voters. The EC has also formed 21 special polling stations at Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi for migrant voters residing at various relief camps.
