During the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, polling commenced in the Jammu parliamentary constituency, witnessing participation from nearly 26% of the 17.8 lakh eligible voters. According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, by 11 am, the average voting percentage across all polling stations stood at 25.93%.
In terms of specific areas, Gulabgarh (ST) recorded 31.1% polling, Reasi 33.79%, Mata Vaishno Devi 31.25%, Ramgarh (SC) 28.28%, Samba 29.59%, Vijaypur 25.44%, Bishnah (SC) 27.63%, Suchetgarh (SC) 25.71%, R S Pura-Jammu South 24.46%, Bahu 21.04%, Jammu East 21.72%, Nagrota 29.4%, Jammu West 19.39%, Jammu North 23.25%, Marh (SC) 29.16%, Akhnoor (SC) 29.75%, Chhamb 25.13%, and Kalakote-Sunderbani registered 29.79% turnout till 11 am.
This parliamentary seat is among the 89 constituencies in 13 states and Union territories where polling took place. Across 2,416 polling stations in the constituency, voting began at 7 am without any untoward incidents reported.
Twenty-two candidates, including the incumbent MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, contested in this election, which marks a significant event post the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories in 2019.
Notably, 102-year-old Haji Karamdin exercised his franchise, advocating for employment opportunities for the youth in order to combat the drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Also read: Tripura’s Voter Turnout Stands At 36.42% Till 11 am In Second Phase Of Lok Sabha Elections
With more than 15,000 polling officials deployed and stringent security measures in place, authorities ensured a conducive environment for free and fair elections. The voter turnout for this parliamentary seat follows the earlier polling in the Udhampur constituency, which recorded over 68% participation.
In total, 17,80,835 voters, including men, women, and third-gender voters, are enrolled in the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency, with provisions made for differently-abled and elderly voters. A network of 2,416 polling stations, including some along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC), was set up across the four districts of Jammu, Samba, Reasi, and Rajouri.
Furthermore, special arrangements were made for the management of polling booths, with women, specially-abled persons, and youngsters taking charge of several stations. The Jammu Lok Sabha seat encompasses 11 assembly constituencies in Jammu district, along with segments from Rajouri and Samba districts.
