Jammu, April 16– Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K, B. R. Sharma said that polling in Jammu Parliamentary constituency (PC), which went to polls in the first phase of the five-phased Lok Sabha elections today, was peaceful and complaint-free and added that nearly 49 per cent voter turnout was recorded, which is a five per cent increase as compared to 2004 polls. He said the poll percentage in 2004 Lok Sabha elections in Jammu PC was 44.49.
Addressing a crowded press conference here this evening, which was also attended by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IG, Jammu Zone, K. Rajendra and Director Information,. Khalid Bashir Ahmad, Mr. Sharma said the increase in poll percentage this time can be attributed to growing faith of the people of the State in the democratic institutions of the country.
Mr. Sharma said barring some trivial incidents which are a part of normal democratic exercise, polling was totally peaceful and there was no untoward incident reported from any where in the constituency.
Giving details of the poll percentage recorded in the four districts of Jammu PC, Mr. Sharma said that Samba recorded 47, Jammu 51, Rajouri 49 and Poonch district recorded poll percentage of 47.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that these were preliminary figures as final figures will be available only after receiving the Presiding Officers’ diaries from all the polling stations of the constituency.
While giving detailed break-up of Assembly segment-wise voter turnout, Mr. Sharma said that Samba recorded 43 per cent, Vijaypur 50, Nagrota 40, Gandhinagar 43, Jammu East 48, Jammu West 50, Bishnah 46, R. S. Pura 55, Suchetgarh 56, Marh 54, Raipur-Domana 51, Akhnoor 61, Chhamb 53, Nowshera 45, Darhal 58, Rajouri 47, Kalakote 42, Surankote 40, Mendhar 56 and Poonch-Haveli recorded 45 per cent voter turn out.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that polling was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and mock polls were conducted in all the polling station between 6.30 a.m. to 7 a.m today. However, he said, “In certain polling stations, the mock polls had to be conducted in absence of polling agents of various political parties as they did not turn up before 7 a.m. when polling was scheduled to start”. He said that 125 such polling stations have been identified and a detailed report is being sought from the concerned authorities.
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