J&Okay polls: Omar Abdullah blames Centre for low voter turnout in second section

Nationwide Convention chief Omar Abdullah on Thursday (September 26, 2024) mentioned the low voter turnout in Srinagar district through the second section of voting for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls was maybe a individuals’s response to the Centre attempting to undertaking normalcy within the Union Territory.

His remarks got here after the second section of polling on Wednesday noticed a voter turnout of over 56% whereas the primary section held on September 18 noticed an estimated 61.38% voter turnout.

“To be trustworthy, I used to be anticipating larger turnout as a result of there was no boycott name, there have been assaults, there have been no threats or intimidation of the voters. I really feel the Centre can be chargeable for this. They tried to current the excessive voter turnout as indicators of normalcy and as if the individuals had accepted the revocation of Article 370. Possibly this was a response from Srinagar as a result of individuals of Srinagar don’t wish to ship fallacious alerts,” Mr. Abdullah advised reporters in Uri border city of Baramulla district.

The previous chief minister, who’s a candidate from Ganderbal and Budgam segments, additionally mentioned it was a mistake to invite the foreign diplomats to observe the polling in Kashmir.

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“The Centre made one other mistake by inviting the diplomats. Possibly they wished to showcase larger voter turnout in Srinagar as an indication of main change. The individuals of Srinagar didn’t need that they be used on this method, in order that they voted in lesser numbers. Nevertheless, I’m grateful to those that got here out to vote, no matter who they voted for,” he mentioned.

A delegation of diplomats from 16 international locations, together with the U.S., Norway and Singapore, on Wednesday noticed the Meeting polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Abdullah, who’s campaigning for celebration candidates within the segments going to polls within the third section on October 1, mentioned the districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara have been excessive voter turnout areas historically and there was no motive for it to be any totally different this time.

“Historically, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara have enthusiastically participated within the polling previously elections. I’m hopeful that they are going to do the identical this time as properly. I might be a bit egocentric and hope that they vote for the Nationwide Convention and wherever NC has not fielded a candidate, they need to vote for Congress,” he added.

Whereas 5 districts of Budgam, Ganderbal, Reasi, Poonch and Rajouri witnessed a turnout of greater than 60%, the eight meeting segments of Srinagar district registered an abysmal 29.81% voter turnout on Wednesday.