2008: Election of many firsts in Jammu & Kashmir,2008: Election of many firsts in J & K

Jammu/Srinagar-As the polling for the seventh and final phase of J&K Assembly Elections 2008 concluded on December 24, curtains came down on an election of many firsts which created new records in several spheres, making it one of the most keenly-contested democratic exercises in the history of the State.

All the electronic voting machines have been brought to the district headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir, where counting will take place on Sunday.

 Political fortunes of 1356 candidates have been sealed in the electronic voting machines.

In Jammu region the main contest is between the Congress, BJP and National Conference. National Panthers Party, PDP and BSP candidates are also in the race.

In  Kashmir region, the main tussle is between the Congress, National Conference and PDP. Candidates of Awami National Conference, Jammu and Kashmir National United Front, Lok Janshakti Party and Democratic Party Nationalist are also in the contest.

 In terms of total number of contestants alone, this election broke all previous records with 1,353 candidates trying their luck for 87 Assembly seats. Even in the case of independents and women candidates, new records were created with 468 independents and 67 women contesting the 2008 polls. Remarkably, the number of independent contestants this time was far higher than the total number of contestants in fray for the 1972 and 1977 Assembly elections. While in 1972 polls, 342 candidates were in fray, in the 1977 electoral exercise, as many as 408 candidates contested.  

Following the announcement of poll schedule for J&K State on October 19 by the Election Commission of India, all apprehensions about conducting elections in winter were brushed aside with people coming out in droves to vote and stamp their faith in democracy. As against overall poll percentage of 43.69 achieved in 2002 when 26.56 lakh electors cast their votes, the voter turnout was a whopping 61.49 per in 2008. A total of 39.60 lakh voters cast their votes this time.

All the political parties and contestants campaigned vigorously right from the announcement of the seven-phased election schedule. As many as 4346 rallies and public meetings, including 700 mega rallies, were held across the State. A number of star campaigners and several national level leaders of various political parties, besides other candidates addressed a large number of public meetings during the campaign period. Of the total rallies, 2299 rallies were held in Kashmir Division and 2047 in Jammu Division.    

Phase-wise, the highest voter turnout of 69.02 per cent was recorded in the first phase itself when four districts of Bandipora, Leh, Kargil and Poonch went to polls on November 17. The polling percentage for the second phase was 68.29 when Ganderbal and Rajouri districts went to polls on November 23. Similarly, third phase of polling on November 30 in Kupwara district recorded a voter turnout of 68.22 while as in the fourth phase voter turnout of 59.24 was recorded during which Baramulla, Budgam, Reasi and Udhampur districts went to polls on December 7.

Likewise, in the fifth phase of polling on December 13, polling percentage of 58.50 was registered when Pulwama, Shopian and Kathua districts went to polls while as 65.93 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the sixth phase when polling was held on December 17 in the districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban. In the seventh and last phase of polling held on December 24, when Srinagar, Samba and Jammu districts went to polls, the poll percentage was 55.60.    

The district-wise overall poll percentage during the Assembly elections 2008 was Kupwara 68.22, Baramulla 47.88, Bandipora 59.66, Ganderbal 55.10, Srinagar 21.67, Budgam 62.41, Pulwama 46.09, Shopian 50.65, Kulgam 64.45, Anantnag 63.20, Leh 65.87, Kargil 73.56, Kishtwar 73.57, Doda 68.77, Ramban 66.27, Reasi 75.33. Udhampur 63.96, Kathua 70.47, Samba 77.90 and Jammu district recorded the voter turnout of 72.75. While in Kashmir Valley, Kupwara recorded the highest voter turnout of 68.22, in Jammu region the highest voter turnout of 77.90 was recorded in Samba district. In Ladakh, the highest poll percentage of 73.50 was recorded in Kargil district.  Interestingly, the district-wise poll percentages recorded in this year’s elections are way higher than what was registered in the 2002 Assembly elections.

In Kashmir Division, the constituency-wise poll percentage during the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 is Karnah 80.41, Kupwara 62.60, Lolab 68.46, Handwara 75.47, Langate 61.46, Uri 81.58, Rafiabad 51.92, Sopore 19.96, Gurez 73.59, Bandipora 57.24, Sonawari 59.64, Sangrama 47.14, Baramulla 33.46, Gulmarg 58.93, Pattan 50.50, Kangan 59.46, Ganderbal 51.79, Hazratbal 28.89, Zadibal 17.30, Idgah 22.07, Khanyar 17.41, Habbakadal 11.58, Amirakadal 14.95, Sonawar 36.61, Batmaloo 20.51, Chadoora 53.79, Budgam 55.17, Beerwah 57.17, Khansahib 74.65, Charar-e-Sharief 74.59, Tral 48.78, Pampore 43.42, Pulwama 40.83, Rajpora 50.61, Wachi 48.54, Shopian 52.71, Noorabad 74.19, Kulgam 61.59, Homeshalibugh 54.16, Anantnag 41.32, Devsar 68.55, Doru 69.77, Kokernag 70.19, Shangas 69.48, Bijbehara 60.75, Pahalgam 70.26, Nobra 73.18, Leh 64.24, Kargil 74.00 and Zanskar 72.31. The Uri Assembly constituency has the distinction of recording the highest voter turnout of 81.58 per cent.

Similarly, in Jammu Division, the constituency-wise poll percentage during this year’s elections is Kishtwar 74.44, Inderwal 72.75, Doda 72.97, Bhadarwah 65.55, Ramban 65.54, Banihal 67.05, Gulabgarh 77.70, Reasi 73.70, Gool-Arnas 75.60, Udhampur 68.63, Chenani 57.43, Ramnagar 64.65, Bani 74.00, Basohli 69.23, Kathua 73.00, Billawar 70.65, Hiranagar 67.00, Samba 73.65, Vijaypur 81.19, Nagrota 79.59, Gandhinagar 64.32, Jammu East 60.54, Jammu West 60.78, Bishnah 77.61, R. S. Pura 77.89, Suchetgarh 82.84, Marh 83.44, Raipur-Domana 71.46, Akhnoor 80.87, Chhamb