 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: The Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula today said that about 76% voters exercised their right to franchise in the 5th and final phase of Assembly Elections-2014 held in 20 constituencies spread across three districts of Kathua, Jammu and Rajouri.
Addressing a news conference here the Chief Electoral Officer said the highest turnout was recorded as 83.20 % in Bani and lowest as 60% in Gandhinagar.
He said Basholi recorded 78.50%, Kathua 80.47%, Billawar 77.60%, Hiranagar (SC), 80.17%, Nagrota 81%, Jammu East 66.05%, Jammu West 65%, Bishnah 80.22 %, R.S. Pura (SC) 77.79%, Suchetgarh 80%, Marh 82.45%, Raipur-Domana (SC) 77.41%, Akhnoor 82.97%, Chhamb (SC) 82%, Nowshera 81.70%, Darhal 81%, Rajouri 75% and Kalakote 74%.
The Chief Electoral Officer said 20 Assembly constituencies that went to polls today were spread over three districts for which as many as 2391 polling stations were set up, which included 278 hypersensitive ones.
The CEO added that 213 candidates were in the fray for these 20 constituencies, which comprised 1828904 electors including 959011 male and 869891 female voters, besides 2 third gender voters.
Narula informed that web casting was done in 166 Polling Stations, while at 324 polling stations, digital and at 349 polling stations, video cameras were installed for free, fair and smooth conduct of polls.
Narula said that 20 General Observers, 6 Expenditure Observers, 3 Police Observers, 2 Awareness Observer besides 394 micro observers and about 12820 poll officials were deployed for the smooth conduct of polls.
He said elaborate arrangements were made to facilitate voters to exercise their franchise in a free and fair atmosphere, adding that the polling percentage may increase after consolidation of figures.
Narula said that the overall percentage for the 2014 Assembly Elections of all the five phases has been recorded as 66%, which is 5% more than the 2008 Assembly Elections, where the overall voter percentage stood at 61%. |
