Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are anxiously awaiting the results of the Lok Sabha elections, which will be announced tomorrow. This election saw the highest voter turnout in 35 years.
Key candidates include two former Chief Ministers and several senior leaders.
The counting, starting at 8 AM, will decide the fate of 100 candidates, including a Union Minister.
Extensive measures, including stringent security, have been implemented to ensure a smooth, secure, and transparent process, according to J&K Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K Pole.
Nine counting centers are set up across the five Lok Sabha constituencies, with an additional center in Delhi for votes cast by Kashmiri migrants. Notable candidates include Union Minister Jitendra Singh, former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and former Ministers Raman Bhalla and Choudhary Lal Singh.
Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Bhat, confirmed elaborate arrangements at SKICC for the Srinagar constituency, emphasizing a 3-tier security system and prohibition of mobile phones inside counting halls.
In Jammu, District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya has imposed preventive restrictions under CrPC 144 at the counting center to prevent any potential law and order issues.
The Union Territory reported a voter turnout of 58.46 percent. The Kashmir Valley saw a turnout of 50.86 percent, a significant increase from 19.16 percent in the 2019 elections. Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Rajouri had turnouts of 38.49 percent, 59.1 percent, and 54.84 percent, respectively. The Udhampur and Jammu constituencies reported 68.27 percent and 72.22 percent turnouts.
In Udhampur, vote counting will occur at Government Degree College, Kathua. Baramulla’s counting will be at Government Degree College (Boys), Baramulla. Anantnag-Rajouri’s votes will be counted at Government Degree College (Boys) Anantnag and Government PG College Rajouri. In Srinagar, with the highest number of candidates, the counting will be at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC). Jammu constituency’s counting will be at Government Polytechnic College and Government MAM College.(KNS)
