Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, June 3: All is set for the crucial vote counting tomorrow in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The counting, beginning at 8 AM, will determine the fate of 100 candidates in the parliamentary elections, including a Union Minister and two former Chief Ministers. Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K Pole confirmed that extensive measures are in place to ensure a smooth, secure, and transparent process, with stringent police arrangements to prevent any incidents.
Nine counting centers have been established across five Lok Sabha constituencies, with an additional center in Delhi for votes cast by Kashmiri migrants. Prominent candidates include Union Minister Jitendra Singh, former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and senior leaders from various parties. Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Bhat, noted elaborate arrangements at SKICC, emphasizing a 3-tier security system and a ban on mobile phones in counting halls. Similar arrangements are confirmed for other centers across the Union Territory.
District Magistrate of Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, has imposed preventive restrictions under CrPC 144 at the counting center to maintain order. Voter turnout across the Union Territory reached 58.46 percent, the highest in 35 years, with significant surges in the Kashmir Valley and strong participation in Jammu.
In Udhampur, counting will take place at Government Degree College, Kathua, while Baramulla’s votes will be counted at Government Degree College (Boys), Baramulla. Anantnag-Rajouri’s votes will be counted at Government Degree College (Boys) Anantnag and Government PG College Rajouri. In Srinagar, the constituency with the highest number of candidates (24), counting will occur at SKICC. Jammu’s votes will be counted at Government Polytechnic College and Government MAM College.(kns)
