More than 10 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency despite torrential rains.
Polling began at 7 a.m. in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and is continuing peacefully, with no untoward incidents reported.
The voting today will decide the fate of 12 candidates, including Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who is eyeing a third term after winning the seat for the BJP in 2014 and 2019.
This is the first major electoral battle since August 5, 2019, the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.
Prominent among others in the fray are Congress leader and two-time former Member of Parliament Choudhary Lal Singh, the DPAP's G M Saroori, and six independents.
Voters braved incessant rains that began in the morning and were seen heading to the polling stations. More than 11,000 polling staff, including reserve, have been deployed, and security arrangements are foolproof to ensure free and fair elections.
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