Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir Friday recorded a healthy voter turnout of about 70 percent amid tight security arrangements in the first phase of polling.
The high-profile Lok Sabha witnessed a close contest between MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and the Congress party candidate Choudhary Lal Singh.
A total number of 12 candidates were in the fray for the seat.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party candidate GM Saroori contested the Lok Sabha seat for the first time and made all efforts to make it a three-cornered contest. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the PDP had extended support to the Congress party candidate on ground zero.
According to official sources, around 16.23 lakh voters including 8.45 lakh male and 7.77 lakh female voters were eligible to vote and participate in the electoral process. Over 65 percent of eligible voters (10.5 lakh) had exercised their right to franchise till 5.00 p.m.
According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K 50.52 percent male and 49.3 percent female voters participated in the polling process.
Till late evening the Election Commission had not issued the final tally of the voter turnout.
Enthusiastic first-time voters, senior citizens, and women were seen lining up outside the polling booths since early morning. A newly wedded couple also visited the polling booth early Friday morning to cast their vote in Udhampur.
The couple also appealed to common voters to come out in large numbers to participate in the poll process. At several places, senior citizens including centenarians exercised their right to vote with the help of their family members. The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate first-time voters, physically abled citizens, and senior citizens.
In the first two hours of polling, less than 10 percent voter turnout was recorded. The voter turnout picked up as the weather conditions improved during the daytime.
Both candidates visited several polling booths in Kathua to ensure free and fair polls. Choudhary Lal Singh of the Congress party also exercised his right to vote in one of the polling booths in Kathua along with his wife.
Interacting with the media Choudhary Lal Singh said, "I am satisfied with the healthy voter turnout in the constituency". Out of five assembly seats in the Kathua district, the Kathua assembly seat recorded 70 percent turnout while Billawar and Hiranagar assembly constituencies recorded over 65 and 69 percent voter turnout respectively. Udhampur district also recorded over 68 percent polling.
Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts also recorded over 63 percent polling.
The rural and Urban pockets of the Lok Sabha constituency witnessed heavy voter turnout.
The border belt of Hiranagar in Kathua also witnessed a healthy voter turnout since morning. Reports of peaceful voting were also received from remote areas of Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Marwah, Dacchan and Padder Nagseni.
