Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 10: While a lot of enthusiasm was seen among the first time voters who exercised their right to franchise during the third phase of polling in Jammu -Poonch Parliamentary constituency which went to polls today, the enthusiasm was no way less among the oldies as they too were among the first comers on various polling booths to cast their votes.
The first time voters said that the rising corruption, unemployment, terrorism, naxalism, price rise, unity and integrity were the main issues and they will vote for the party which can rid the nation of these problems, take it on the path of development and restore the pristine glory of the country.
Vinod Kumar, 21 a Business Executive in a private company at Jammu who exercised his franchise for the first time at polling station number 63 in 78 Raipur Domana Assembly constituency housed in Government School Patoli Brahmana said that nation needs a strong leader, a best crisis manager to make India a self reliant country and improve its image in the comity of nations.
Without naming which party he voted for, he said for a healthy democracy there should be change of guard after every five years so that the political parties don’t misuse the power and can be kept under constant check by the public. He said “presently youth is in desperation as they see their future bleak and vote is the only power in our hands through which we can determine our future”.
Shivani Raina, 19, a BE second semester student who was also going to vote at the same polling booth early this morning said that change is must and vote is the only power in a democracy through which people can determine their destiny. “If we vote for a candidate and the party with good public image our half of the problems get automatically solved”, she added.
Puran Chand Vishwakarma 90 was among the first to cast his vote at polling station Patoli Brahmana in the morning. He said that he has cast his vote in almost in every election and this time too he ensured that he should not lag. The old man covered a half kilometer distance from his residence to polling both with the help of a stick to cast his vote in the morning.
Jai Ram Sharma 89, who also reached the polling booth at Patoli Brahmana early morning said that he does not want to miss the chance as he has been regularly casting his vote after independence in all elections.
Dhani Ram Bhagat, 90 also cast his vote and was seen among many elderly persons going to cast their vote at Patoli Brahmana voting station in the morning. He said the vote is a great power with people and they should boldly exercise this right.
Sunil Kumar, 22 who was also a first time voter at booth number 62 Patoli said he was enthusiastic to vote for the party and the candidate who can hold much promises for youth and guarantee a better future to them.
In both these two polling booths the rush of people was less in the morning but it increased after passage of the day and up to 9 am 20 percent voters had polled their votes.
Seema Sharma, 23 who is also cast her vote for the first time at polling booth number 91 in 78 Raipur -Domana constituency said her vote was for change. Seema who is doing here post graduation in English from JU said youth should vote for the party which will fulfill their aspirations.
At this polling booth 713 people had cast their vote up to 4-30 pm out of 1083 voters, said Sanjeev Singh Presiding Officer. Though there was no queue in the polling station which was housed in Government Girls Middle School Patta Bohri along with other six polling booths, three of Jammu West constituency and three of Raipur Domana, the voters were coming to cast their vote one by one on this booth.
Vishal Dogra, 20 a first time voter after casting his vote at booth number 34 of 73 Jammu West constituency at Poonch House said he voted for a change so that such a Government is installed at Centre which can rid the nation of corruption, price rise, take it on the path of development through good governance and rid the nation of terrorism and naxalism besides guarantee a better future to youth.
Ravi Singh, 23 a MBA student said that he too voted for a leadership which can deliver goods fulfill the aspirations of the people in general and youth in particular who see their future bleak.
The voter turn out at various booths where this correspondent made the round during the day was good and the percentage of male and female turnout was equal almost at all polling stations.
At booth number 34 of 73 Jammu West Assembly Segment which was housed in Poonch House out of 1256 total voters, 709 had exercised their franchise up to 4-05 pm. They included 358 male and 351 female as stated by Chain Singh Presiding Officer, of the polling station.
There were six polling station in Poonch House and at the booth number 29 of the same Assembly segment 690 voters had exercised their franchise out of 1075 up to 4-10 pm.
At booth number 30 in the same Assembly segment stationed in Poonch House out of 1264 votes 795 were polled up to 4 pm while 670 votes were polled at booth number 31 out of 1228 votes up to 4-15 pm. Out of them the male turn out was 349 while 323 were the females.
At polling booth number 32 in the same Assembly segment 510 people had cast their vote out of 933 up to the 4-25 pm while at booth number 33 a total 522 voters had polled their votes out of 870 up to 4-20 pm. They included 272 male and 250 female.
At polling station 43 of 73 Jammu West 200 voters were rejected by the election authorities out of 1281 votes as some of them turned to be bogus votes as the names of dead people were included besides there were not proper address of some voters while others had registered their votes at two places said Sham Lal Sharma presiding officer of the polling booth.
On this booth 656 voters had cast their vote up to 4-32 pm. At polling booth number 92 Raipur Domana which was housed in Government Girls Middle School, Patta Bohri along with other six polling stations of Raipur Domana and Jammu West Assembly segment 441 people had polled their votes out of 769 voters up to 4-27 pm.
At polling station Munshi Chak A, 636 votes were polled out of 1192 up to 3-40 pm while 339 were polled out of 675 at Munshi Chak B by 3-45 pm. At polling station 56, Munshi Chak 225 votes were polled out of 432 up to 3-51 pm.
At polling station number 78/94 Raipur Domana 486 votes were poled out of 829 up to 4-35 pm while 517 votes were polled at 73/44 Jammu West polling booth out of 1187 votes upto 4-40 pm. At 93/78 Raipur Domana out of 1089 total votes 470 were polled up to 4-40 pm. They included 260 male and 210 female.
At polling booth 68 of 78 Raipur Domana housed in Government School Barnai 887 voters had exercised their franchise out of 1265 total voters up to 5pm while 638 had cast their votes at polling station number 69 of the same Assembly segment. Total 424 voters had exercised their franchise on PS 70 of the same Assembly segment out of 550 voters while 416 had turned up to cast their votes up to 5pm at polling station 71 in the same Assembly segment out of 623 voters.
At polling station number 72 in Same Assembly segment 787 people exercise their franchise out of 1263 up to 5-10 pm.
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