Amidst the intense tallying of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, the spotlight shines on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who commands a lead of over 32,000 votes, according to initial trends.
The latest real-time data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) reveals that Dr. Jitendra Singh has garnered more than 155,000 votes, firmly ahead of Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh by a significant margin as of 11:30 AM. Lal Singh trails with over 123,000 votes, while GM Saroori lags far behind with over 8,500 votes.
Udhampur, currently represented by Dr. Jitendra Singh from the BJP and serving as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), witnesses a compelling electoral showdown in 2024 between Dr. Jitendra Singh and Choudhary Lal Singh from the Congress party.
The electoral saga unfolded on April 19, marking the inaugural phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the high-profile Udhampur parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, this election follows the historic abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Udhampur recorded a robust 68.27 percent voter turnout during this phase.
Spanning an expansive 16,707 square kilometers, the Udhampur constituency encompasses 18 assembly segments distributed across five districts: Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur, and Kathua. The electoral landscape featured a diverse lineup of 12 candidates, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh vying for a third consecutive term. Noteworthy contenders included Congress stalwart Choudhary Lal Singh, DPAP’s G.M. Saroori, and six independent candidates.
Chaudhary Lal Singh, the Congress nominee, boasts previous Lok Sabha experience, having represented Udhampur in both 2004 and 2009. Meanwhile, Dr. Jitendra Singh has maintained a stronghold on the seat since 2014.
The BJP’s formidable cadre actively campaigned across Udhampur, contrasting with the comparatively low-profile campaign of the Congress, marked by appearances from former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar.
In the 2024 polls, the Udhampur constituency registered a total of 1,623,195 eligible voters, witnessing a commendable voter turnout of 68.27%, amounting to 1,108,206 votes, as per the Election Commission’s records. The constituency underwent polling during the first phase on April 19, 2024.
Reflecting on previous elections, Dr. Jitendra Singh has consistently secured significant victory margins. In 2014, he triumphed over Congress’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, securing 46.78% of the votes against Azad’s 40.93%. Similarly, in 2019, he emerged victorious against Congress’s Vikramaditya Singh, clinching 61.38% of the votes in contrast to Vikramaditya’s 31.10%.
Despite its diverse demographics, with Hindu majorities in Udhampur and Kathua districts and predominantly Muslim populations in Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts, Dr. Jitendra Singh has demonstrated an ability to garner support across various communities, even in Muslim-dominated areas, as evidenced by his performance in past elections.