Long queues outside polling stations since early morning marked the enthusiasm among people who voted for the first time in the Assembly elections post the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.More than 39.18 lakh eligible voters are set to decide the fate of 415 candidates, including two former deputy chief ministers, Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig, and several former ministers and legislators.Officials said polling was going on peacefully in all segments, including special polling stations along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.A voter turnout of 65.48 percent was recorded till 5 pm.Udhampur district recorded the highest turnout of 72.91 percent, followed by Samba (72.41 percent), Kathua (70.53 percent), Jammu (66.79 percent), Bandipora (63.33 percent), Kupwara (62.76 percent), and Baramulla (55.73 percent).Among the constituencies, Chhamb in Jammu district was leading with 77.35 percent polling recorded in the first 10 hours.Sopore segment, once a terrorist and separatist stronghold, recorded the lowest turnout of 41.44 percent, the EC data showed.In Jammu district’s 11 segments, Bishnah (SC) recorded 72.75 percent polling, Suchetgarh (SC) 68.02 percent, R S Pura-Jammu South 61.65 percent, Bahu 57.07 percent, Jammu East 60.21 percent, Nagrota 72.94 percent, Jammu West 56.31 percent, and Jammu North 60.79 percent, Akhnoor (SC) 76.28 percent, Marh (SC) 76.10 percent and Chhamb 77.35 percent.In the six seats of Kathua district, Bani recorded 71.24 percent voter turnout, Billawar 69.64 percent, Basohli 67.24 percent, Jasrota 71.79 percent, Kathua (SC) 71.49 percent and Hiranagar 71.18 percent.In Udhampur district’s four segments, Udhampur West recorded 73.20 percent, Udhampur East 74.07 percent, Chenani 73.79 percent and Ramnagar (SC) 70.38 percent polling.In the three seats of Samba district, Ramgarh (SC) recorded 73.10 percent polling, Samba 71.16 percent and Vijaypur 73.05 percent.In Baramulla district’s seven seats, Sopore recorded 41.44 percent, Rafiabad 58.39 percent, Uri 64.81 percent, Baramulla 47.95 percent, Gulmarg 64.19 percent, Wagoora-Kreeri 56.43 percent and Pattan 60.87 percent.In the six seats of Kupwara district, Karnah registered 66.30 percent, Tregham 62.27 percent, Kupwara 59.68 percent, Lolab 61.22 percent, Handwara 69.06 percent and Langate 59.81 percent.In the three seats of Bandipora district, Sonawari registered 65.56 percent, Bandipora 58.60 percent and Gurez (ST) 75.89 percent.
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