Percentage is little less than 2014 & and 2019 polls
Exceeds national average, undeterred by adverse weather conditions
Kathua & Udhampur dist lead voter participation, Chenab Valley varied
Jammu, Apr 19: The first phase of the 2024 LokSabha elections witnessed a remarkable turnout in the prestigious Kathua-Udhampur-Doda seat, despite widespread rain across the Jammu region.
Polling started at 7 am amid inclement weather conditions in the UdhampurLokSabha constituency spread over the five districts of Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar.
This is the first major electoral battle after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019.
Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K reported a turnout of approximately 65.08% till 5 pm for the Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, with the voting percentage expected to rise slightly after final figures are tallied.
This turnout far exceeds that of the other 103 seats that went to polls in the first phase. Officials attributed the slightly lower turnout compared to previous elections to adverse weather conditions.
In both the 2014 and 2019 LokSabha elections, the BJP candidate and Union Minister, Dr.Jitendra Singh, emerged victorious in this constituency. In 2014, the voting percentage reached a substantial 70.91%, while it rose to 71.01% in 2019. However, this year’s turnout of 65.08% still surpasses that of 2009, which stood at 44.9%.
A total of 12 candidates contested for the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda constituency, spread across 18 Assembly constituencies. Among these, the constituencies in Kathua and Udhampur districts witnessed the highest voter turnout, with Kathua Assembly constituency leading at 70.8%, followed by Udhampur East at 69.96%, Jasrota at 68.65%, and Hiranagar at 68.06%.
As per official figures, 62. 51% polling was recorded in 49- Kishtwar AC, 60. 81% in 50-Padder Nagseni AC, 60.85% in 51-Bhaderwah AC, 65.78% in 52-Doda AC, 66.62 % in 53-Doda West AC, 64. 76 % in 54-Ramban AC, 56.62 % in 55-Banihal AC, 66.33% in 61-Chenani AC, 64.79% in 62-Ramnagar AC, 60.65 % in 63-Bani AC, 64.51 % in 64-Billawar AC, 63.57% in 65-Basohli AC.
In contrast, the Chenab Valley region experienced a lower voter turnout. However, the Assembly constituency once represented by GM Saroori, the candidate of DPAP, recorded the highest turnout in the entire Chenab Valley, with 66.9% of voters casting their ballots despite adverse weather conditions.
Official figures reveal that polling percentages varied across different Assembly constituencies, ranging from 56.62% to 66.9%.
The main contest for this constituency is between Dr.Jitendra Singh of the BJP, Lal Singh of the Congress, who has represented this seat twice before, and GM Saroori of DPAP.
In the 2014 LokSabha elections, Dr.Jitendra Singh secured victory over the then Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister of J&K, GhulamNabi Azad, by a margin of over 50,000 votes. Similarly, in the 2019 polls, Dr. Singh defeated the Congress candidate, Vikramaditya Singh, by an impressive margin of 4 lakh votes.
