LS Polls: Healthy polling in 4 districts with 28 pc in first four hours for Udhampur-Kathua PC

Jammu, Apr 18: The first four districts out of six segments recorded healthy polling as 28 per cent votes were polled in the first four hours in the second phase of Lok Sabha for Udhampur-Kathua Parliamentary Constituency.

In Reasi district, polling percentage till 1100 hours was 28.8, in Kathua 28.5 pc, in Udhampur 28.7 pc, Ramban 19.5 pc, in Doda 28.6 pc and in Kishtwar 23.6 pc.

However, overall polling percentage was 17.8 hours.

Earlier till 0900 hours the Kathua Assembly segment recorded highest 13.5 polling percentage.

The polling started at 0700 hours while overall poll percentage till 0900 hours was 6.1 per cent.

Kathua topped with 13.5 per cent polling followed by Udhampur with 12.0 per cent, Reasi and Doda, 9.7 per cent, Kishtwar, 4.0 per cent and Ramban 2.8 per cent.

The constituency is spread over 17 Assembly segments comprising six districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua.

As many as 14 candidates including MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh (BJP) are among in fray besides Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, son of Dr Karan Singh and grandson of last Dogra Ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.

Other contestants included Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan head, Choudhary Lal Singh, the former minister, who is also contesting on Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency while Tilak Raj Bhagat of Bhujan Samaj Party, Harsh Dev Singh of JKNPP, Mohammad Ayub of Navrang Congress Party, Meenakshi of Shiv Sena and Bansi Lal, Prem Nath, Rakesh Mudgal, Shaber Ahmad, Garib Singh, Firdous Ahmed, Martand Singh all independents.

Over 16.85 lakh electors will exercise their right to vote in Udhampur-Kathua Parliamentary Constituency.

The election authority has set up 2,710 Polling Stations across the constituency for smooth conduct of elections.