Jammu, Apr 19 : In the initial two hours of polling for the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur parliamentary constituency, over 10% of voters cast their ballots despite heavy rains, according to election officials. Polling commenced at 7 am across 2,637 polling stations in the constituency, with no reports of any untoward incidents.
The election will determine the fate of 12 candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh, who seeks a third term after winning for the BJP in 2014 and 2019. Notably, this is the first major electoral battle since the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
Prominent contenders include Congress leader and two-time former Member of Parliament Choudhary Lal Singh, the DPAP’s G M Saroori, and six independents. Despite adverse weather conditions, early voters were observed heading to polling stations before voting commenced.
Over 11,000 polling staff, along with reserve personnel, have been deployed, and security arrangements have been enhanced to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The Udhampur constituency spans an extensive area of 16,707 square kilometres and comprises 18 assembly segments across five districts.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the constituency recorded a turnout of 70.2%. As per officials, several areas, including Padder-nagseni and Inderwal, recorded significant voter turnout till 9 am. Both Lal Singh and Saroori expressed confidence in winning the seat after casting their votes.
Out of the total 2,637 polling stations, 1,472 have been equipped with webcasting facilities. The constituency boasts a diverse electorate of 16,23,195 eligible voters, including a substantial number of potential first-time voters aged 18-19 years and a sizable elderly population aged 80 and above.
