Despite Boycott Call, 70% Voting in J&K 61.92% in Jharkhand

First phase of polling began on Tuesday for the Assembly elections in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. While the polling is being held for 15 seats in J&K, Jharkhand is voting for 13 Assembly seats. Defying separatists’ election boycott call and braving cold weather, voters turned out in large numbers today to record over 70 per cent polling without any incident in 15 constituencies in the first of the five- phase polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Election Commission officials said the poll percentage figures released so far were tentative and that it was likely to go up by two to three per cent as voting was going on at some places even after closure of voting at 4 pm. Polling began at 8 am in cold wave conditions. A 61 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the 2008 Assembly polls for these 15 seats–6 in Jammu division, 5 in Kashmir Valley and four in Ladakh. Today’s polling was spread over seven districts.

Dealing a serious blow to separatist politics, thousands of voters had lined up before polling stations with nearly 10.52 lakh voters being eligible to vote. Separatist groups like all the factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF have called for a boycott of the polls and a general strike as well.

Source:Outlookindia