Diplomats From 15 Nations Witness Voting In J & K; Srinagar Sees Lowest Turnout In Phase 2

Srinagar: The constituencies under Srinagar district recorded the lowest voter turnout at 27.6 per cent in the second phase of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly election.

According to Election Commission of India, Habbakadal seat in Srinagar saw just 15.8 per cent turnout while neighbouring Khanyar seat, covering old Srinagar city, witnessed 24 per cent turnout.

Among Assembly seats, Mata Vaishno Devi seat in Jammu recorded highest turnout of 75.2 per cent, followed by Poonch Haveli, also in Jammu, with 72.7 per cent.

The second phase of voting in J & K Jammu was “overall peaceful” with a 56.79 per cent voter turnout, according to the union territory’s chief electoral officer (CEO) PK Pole.

ECI, however, said that as of 7 pm, voter turnout in the UT was 54.11 per cent across 26 seats in six districts.

A feature of the day’s polling was the visit of a high-level delegation of senior diplomats from 15 countries to the valley to witness the first election since abrogation of Article 370 five years ago.

The Indian government had invited diplomats from the USA, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria and the Phillippines, reported ANI.

The delegation visited polling stations in Ompora (Budgam), Amira Kadal, SP College and, Chinar Bagh, within Lal Bagh constituency.

Their tour included visit to a special pink polling station, managed entirely by women.

‘We Don’t Need Foreigners’ Certificate’

National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah lashed out at the Central government for inviting foreign diplomats to observe the elections.

“I don’t know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments make comments, the Government of India says ‘this is an internal matter for India’, and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections,” said Omar, the former chief minister and NC vice-president.