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Srinagar, Sep 25 : The second phase of polling for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections saw a voter turnout of over 54.11% on Wednesday, as voters came out to exercise their democratic rights across 26 constituencies.
According to officials, the polling process was largely peaceful and smooth, with no significant disruptions reported, despite some minor incidents of arguments.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), P K Pole, addressed the media in Srinagar after the conclusion of voting. He provided the turnout figures, noting that the 54.11 per cent turnout was a provisional figure as voting continued in several areas, including Hazratbal and Reasi.
“The polling was overall peaceful. Some stray incidents like arguments took place, but there is no need for re-poll anywhere,” Pole stated.
He highlighted that the electoral process had been conducted smoothly across the majority of constituencies.
One of the most notable developments in this phase of the elections was the presence of a 16-member delegation of foreign envoys who visited the valley to observe the elections firsthand.
This marks a significant event in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir, as international observers were allowed to witness the election process for the first time since the eruption of insurgency in the region in the late 1980s.
The envoys’ visit reflects a growing international interest in the region’s electoral process, especially following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Allowing international observers to witness the elections is seen as an effort by the Indian government to showcase transparency and to counter allegations of unrest or dissatisfaction in the region.
Despite the peaceful conduct of the elections, the decision to allow foreign envoys to observe the polling process was met with criticism from some quarters. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, expressed his dissatisfaction with the move, calling it unnecessary interference. “The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are an internal matter of the country,” Abdullah remarked, asserting that such involvement by international observers was unwarranted.
Areas like Hazratbal and Reasi, which were still in the process of polling, are likely to see further participation as the final figures are tallied. The first phase of voting had also recorded a similarly encouraging turnout, indicating that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are keen to take part in shaping the region’s political future.
Security forces had been deployed across sensitive areas to ensure peaceful conduct, and their presence is believed to have contributed to the smooth flow of the voting process.(KNS)
