Lok Sabha elections 2024: Voter turnout less than my expectations in Central Kashmir, says Farooq Abdullah

JKNC head Farooq Abdullah. File Photos

Farooq Abdullah, the chief of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), voiced alarm about the low voting rate in Central Kashmir, stating that he anticipated roughly 70% of voters to turn out for the current Lok Sabha elections 2024. The JKNC head stated to ANI on Saturday, "I anticipated the proportion to be 70%. I'm not sure why the number was so low. People are keen to voice their opinions and designate representatives to the Parliament."

"Our children are taking drugs. An entire generation is in danger. The percentage is less than my expectations. It should have been 70 per cent," Abdullah further told ANI. Jammu and Kashmir recorded low voter turnouts at 38.49 in the recently concluded fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024.

According to the Election Commission's report on Friday, 69.16 per cent of voters cast ballots in the fourth round of the Lok Sabha polls, which were held on May 13 in 96 constituencies. According to the report, 34.23 per cent of third-gender voters, 68.73 per cent of female voters, and 69.58 per cent of male voters all exercised their right to vote.

With an overall voter participation of 80.66%, Andhra Pradesh had the highest turnout. With 80.22 per cent of the vote, West Bengal had the second-highest voter turnout. Other than Jammu and Kashmir, significantly low voter turnout was also observed in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with 58.22 and 58.21 per cent, respectively.

In the fourth phase of voting for the 96 Lok Sabha seats, Andhra Pradesh accounted for twenty-five, Telangana for seventeen, Uttar Pradesh for thirteen, Maharashtra for eleven, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal for eight, Bihar for five, Jharkhand and Odisha for four, and Jammu and Kashmir for one.

While the Anantnag-Rajouri seat will vote on May 25, the Baramulla seat will vote on May 20.

Phase 5 of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections offers an exciting tripartite confrontation in Jammu & Kashmir's political battleground of Baramulla. Omar Abdullah represents the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), while Sajjad Gani Lone represents the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (JKPC), which is affiliated with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Fayaz Ahmad Mir represents the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Notably, the BJP is not running for any of the three Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir - Baramulla, Anantnag, and Srinagar. The BJP had six candidates in Jammu and Kashmir for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, but they were unable to secure any seats in the region.

Voting ended on April 19 and 26, respectively, for the seats in Udhampur and Jammu, and on May 13 for Srinagar.

The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

(With Inputs from ANI)