Udhampur, April 17, (Scoop News)-Over 28 percent voting turn out was registered in Udhampur –Doda parliamentary constituency in first four hours (11 am) on Thursday morning, Udhampur based poll officials told Scoop News by phone.
Udhampur, one of the most high profiled constituency in Jammu and Kashmir in which federal health minister and former chief minister of the state, Ghulam Nabi Azad of Indian National Congress Party (INC) is keenly contesting direct electoral battle against Dr Jetindra Singh of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP).
The contest is a litmus test for Azad who is a joint candidate of ruling alliance (Congress and National Conference) from this parliamentary constituency, the second largest of all six constituency in the state with 2.4 million population and 1.46 million electorate (7,77,599 males and 6,77,850 females) spread across six districts besides 17 assembly segments.
Of 2.4 million population in the constituency, Muslims constitute about 33 percent, Rajputs 25 percent, Brahmins 17 percent, Sikhs 5 percent, Khatris 6 percent and others 14 percent.
Of 17 assembly segments eight seats are being held by Congress party, four by BJP and two by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP).
Of 13 candidates, there is only one female contestant Amrit Barsha of Samajwadi Party, who were trying their luck on Thursday from Udhampur-Doda constituency and others include Ghulam Nabi Azad, Dr Jatindra Singh, Mohammed Arshad Mailk (PDP), Prof Bhim Singh (JKNPP), Darshan Pal Balgotra (BSP), Anil Gupta (JKDF), Anil Khajuria (All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party) Jagdish Kumar (Jai Maha Bharath Party), Girdhari Lal (Bhartiya Bhujan Party)Bansi Lal, Nazakat Hussain and Sham Lal(all Independents). Kathua district, as per election authorities, has largest number of voters with 4,24,680 followed by Udhampur with 2,95,688, Doda with 1,82, 694, Ramban with 1,59,872 voters, Kishtiwar with 1,54,332 voters
and Reasi with 1,20,800 voters.
The poll officials said for holding of a free and fair elections in the constituency, a total of 22,156 poll personnel were deployed for manning of 2,051 polling stations with sufficient number of security personnel and police….
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