JAMMU, APRIL 17 (KMW): Around 69% electorate cast their vote in today’s polling for Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, which concluded this evening. This is about 24% more than the polling percentage of last Parliamentary election.
Disclosing this at a press conference here today the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. UmangNarula said 64.48% votes were cast in Kishtwar, 68.41% in Doda, 63.22% in Ramban,74.84% in Reasi,67.92%in Udhampur,70.43% in Kathua Districts and figures of exact polling are being received from various other far flung areas of these districts, which would add up the final poll percentage tally subsequently
He said the polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere and so far no untoward incident was reported from any part of the constituency and in order to ensure that the polling is done in various inaccessible areas of the hilly districts 45 air sorties were done and 545 poll staff /personnel were airlifted .He further said that 1272 vehicles were also put in use for transportation of polling personnel and material.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that the constituency was spread over large Geographical area covering six districts for which as many as 2051 polling station at 1798 locations were set up, which included 198 critical/hypersensitive ones. In order to improve the voting experience of the voters 53 model polling stations were established with innovative facilities,Mr. Narula said and added that web casting was done on 68 PS and 337 digital and 132 video cameras were deployed.
Mr. Narula said that 269 micro observers were also deployed and 2772 EVMs were used in today’s polling. He appreciated the District machinery of Jammu Division for their efforts for synergizing various aspects of election management for ensuring smooth conduct of the electoral process.
The CEO said 13 candidates were in the fray for the constituency which comprised 1468886 number of electors including 681206 female and 787680 male voters.
