Three-Phase Polling Fails to Attract Voters in J&K’s Anantnag

In a first-of-its-kind arrangement, Anantnag is voting in three phases.

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

The Anantnag constituency of Jammu and Kashmir has as many as 5.30 lakh registered voters, but not a single vote was cast in the first couple of hours after polling started in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, on Tuesday, 23 April.

Even when voting started, the constituency witnessed less than five percent polling in the first four hours, news agency PTI reported.

Till 5:30 pm, all seats in Jammu and Kashmir recorded a rather low 12.46 percent voter turnout, according to Election Commission data. Polling at Anantnag ended at 4 pm, instead of the usual 6 pm, following a request by the police.

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

The low turnout led National Conference leader Omar Abdullah to urge people to vote and “give anger a voice.”

Unprecedented Polling Arrangement in Anantnag

Anantnag, which is a hotbed for militant activities, is witnessing unprecedented voting arrangements with the Election Commission conducting polling in the constituency over three phases. Tuesday was the first phase of voting in Anantnag.

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

The Election Commission said the schedule was made keeping in mind the security situation in the constituency, which is spread across four districts of terror-hit south Kashmir. More than 300 companies of security forces were deployed for Tuesday's polling.

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

(Photo: Muneeb ul Islam/The Quint)

Meanwhile, the seat has its own political importance as former J&K Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is among the 18 candidates in fray, in the seat. National Conference’s Hasnain Masoodi is the main contender.

(With inputs from PTI)