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| Polling in Poonch beyond expectations | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
POONCH, Nov 17: It was widely expected but not as high as the number of people turned up at the polling stations in three constituencies of Poonch district which went to polls in the first phase of assembly elections.
In a keenly contested election in all three constituencies of Poonch district, overall average polling has been recorded at 71% -Poonch-Haveli 73.23%, Mendhar 73.05% and Surankote 68.01 %. 10 to 15 per cent polling was registered in first two hours of the polling which underlined enthusiasm of the voters to braved chill to reach the polling stations.
At Gursai polling station in Mendhar constituency, Shabir Hussain Jafri was the first voter to cast his vote at 8.02 AM.
Great enthusiasm and joy marked the beginning of polling in the first phase of Assembly elections in Poonch district comprising Assembly constituencies of Poonch-Haveli, Surankote and Mendhar. Tough contest is between Javed Rana of National Conference and Rafiq Hussain Khan of Peoples Democratic Party in Mendhar, Ajaz Jan of National Conference and Bashir Ahmed Naz of Congress in Poonch-Haveli and Mushtaq Bukhari of National Conference and Choudhary Mohammad Aslam of Congress in Surankote constituency.
From the wee hours, men and women in large numbers thronged the polling stations and in minutes these gatherings turned into long queues with each voter eagerly waiting to exercise his or her franchise.
With conviction and firm determination reflected in their expressions, people were enthusiastically pressing the buttons of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) to elect their representatives.
The people living in border villages situated near Chakan-Da-Bagh were seen more actively participating in polling taking place in a peaceful and fair atmosphere unlike 2002 Assembly elections when there was fear of shelling from across the border.
The polling stations in Poonch district visited by media team of Information Department included Government High School Purani Poonch, Government Girls HSS, Sheesh Mahal, Government High School Khari Karmara, Government Primary School Gulpur Kalsan, ITI Poonch, Government Pahari Hostel Poonch and Government Middle School, Khanetar Dhalera.
Brisk polling was also seen in Surankote and Bufliaz where 50 percent votes had been polled by 12:15 PM. Entire atmosphere presented a festive look with men and women attired in traditional costumes flocking their respective polling stations to cast their votes.
In all, 36 candidates are in fray in the three constituencies of Poonch district for which 353 polling stations have been set up. |
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