Members of the ‘centurion club’ on Thursday led from the front and motivated first time voters and women folk to come forward in large numbers in the second phase of polling on Udhampur-Doda lok Sabha seat which recorded approximately 70 per cent polling, registering a jump of 24 per cent from 2009 lok Sabha polls.
The record turnout of voters across six districts sealed the fate of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad locked in a close contest between BJP candidate Jitendra Singh and PDP nominee Arshad Malik.
No untoward incident was reported throughout the day from across 2,051 polling stations set up by the Election Commission.
Tight security arrangements were in place to ensure free and fair polling.
Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula late on Thursday evening told reporters, “69.08 per cent polling was recorded on Udhampur-Doda lok Sabha seat, recording a jump of almost 24 per cent in comparison to 2009 lok Sabha polls.”
103-year-old Massu Ram and 102-year-old Jeet Raj stole the limelight as they marched to the polling booths to cast their votes in Hiranagar Assembly constituency close to the International border.
Gulabgarh Assembly constituency in Reasi district recorded highest voter turnout of 81.54 per cent, while Reasi recorded 79.19 per cent, Kathua followed with 78.28 per cent polling, Udhampur recorded 75.19 per cent polling.
Due to minor technical snag some of the EVM’s were replaced at some places without affecting the polling.
The highlight of the polling was record turnout of women and nomadic population in remote areas.
Women voters stood shoulder to shoulder with men to cast their votes in long queues.
The mood among the electorate in bordering Hiranagar was upbeat since early morning . The constituency recorded 76.06 per cent polling.
Stronghold of Ghulam Nabi Azad recorded 65.35 per cent polling in Kishtwar, 69.35 per cent in Inderwal, 71.50 in Doda and 69.30 per cent in Bhaderwah.
Ramban Assembly constituency recorded 67.24 percent polling and Banihal recorded 61.50 percent polling.
Bani, Billawar and Basholi asembly constituency recorded 65.27 percent, 71.20 and 65.82 percent polling.
The BJP candidate, riding high on the pro Modi wave is expected to have garnered majority votes in Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts while Azad had consolidated his position in hilly Doda and Kishtwar districts in the last leg of campaigning.