Over17 lakh voters to decide fate of 21 contestants today
Jammu, April 16 – Polling began today in the first phase of five-phased Lok Sabha elections across all the 20 Assembly segments of Jammu Parliamentary constituency spread over four districts of Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch.
Voters were seen lined up outside various polling stations waiting for their turn to cast vote. About 2,210 polling stations have been set up across the constituency to facilitate voters.
As many as 17.21 lakh electors, including 23,674 service voters, will decide fate of 21 contestants in fray for Jammu Parliamentary constituency (PC), going to polls today along with 123 other constituencies in 15 states of the country.
The Assembly segments going to polls are Samba and Vijaypur in Samba district, Nagrota, Gandhinagar, Jammu East, Jammu West, R.S. Pura, Suchetgarh, Bishnah, Akhnoor, Raipur-Domana, Marh and Chhamb in Jammu district, Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote in Rajouri district and Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch-Haveli in Poonch district.
Meanwhile the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K, Mr. B. R. Sharma has said that about 8 per cent polling has been recorded up to 9.00 a.m. in the Jammu Parliamentary constituency (PC), where polling is being held in the first phase of the five-phased Lok Sabha elections in the State.
The Chief Electoral officer said that polling was slow to begin with, but has picked up pace across all the 20 Assembly segments in the Jammu PC. He said polling is going on in a smooth manner and no reports of EVM malfunctioning have been reported so far.
SIDELIGHTS
Polling is picking up steady pace across all the 20 Assembly segments of Jammu Parliamentary constituency with young and old queuing up outside various polling stations to cast their votes early morning today.
Defying old age, 104-year-old Munshi Ram, cast his vote at 08-Bowani A polling station in Nowshera Assembly segment at Rajouri. Similarly, Ishar Das and Hansraj, in late 90s, were also among those who exercised their franchise in the early hours of the voting today.
Likewise, Mrs. Kamla Devi, 102, exercised her franchise umpteenth time at Gurah Brahamana, in Akhnoor segment of Jammu PC early today. Hard of hearing, she said, she recalls having exercised her vote 19 times already in various Assembly and Parliamentary elections and bye-elections.
Responding to the jago re campaign, first-time voters, 20-year-old Ms. Neesha Devi and Mr. Ghar Singh also cast their votes at 27-Government Boys City Middle School, R. S. Pura and 75-Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Akhnoor respectively. Not to be left behind, young Ms. Sarita Sagar was the first to cast her vote at 25-Polling Station, Government Boys Higher Secondary School R. S. Pura.
In certain polling stations brisk poling was reported right from word go. At 77-B Polling Station at Marhbagh, 116 votes were cast out of 918 at the polling station. Mr. Hansraj, 99, also cast his vote at the same polling station. Similarly, at Kanachak, out of total 690 votes.
Segment-wise tentative poll percentage of 6-Jammu Parliamentary Constituency at 11 a.m.
|
No |
Assembly segment |
% up to 9 a.m |
% up to 11 a.m |
|
68 |
Samba |
7.00 |
18.00 |
|
69 |
Vijaypur |
9.00 |
20.00 |
|
70 |
Nagrota |
7.20 |
18.00 |
|
71 |
Gandhinagar |
2.63 |
9.33 |
|
72 |
Jammu East |
5.00 |
13.63 |
|
73 |
Jammu West |
5.00 |
18.05 |
|
74 |
Bishnah |
6.00 |
22.00 |
|
75 |
R S Pura |
13.00 |
27.32 |
|
76 |
Suchetgarh |
11.00 |
25.00 |
|
77 |
Marh |
13.00 |
27.00 |
|
78 |
Raipur-Domana |
6.00 |
25.00 |
|
79 |
Akhnoor |
13.60 |
26.40 |
|
80 |
Chhamb |
10.00 |
24.00 |
|
81 |
Nowshera |
7.00 |
18.00 |
|
82 |
Darhal |
9.00 |
19.00 |
|
83 |
Rajouri |
8.00 |
17.00 |
|
84 |
Kalakote |
4.00 |
10.00 |
|
85 |
Surankote |
7.00 |
15.00 |
|
86 |
Mendher |
8.00 |
13.00 |
|
87 |
Poonch-Haveli |
6.00 |
15.00 |