Brisk Voter Turnout in Jammu and Kashmir; Jharkhand Votes Under High Security
For the first time in 25 years, people
ignored a boycott call by separatists
to line up in large numbers to vote in
the first phase of the Jammu and
Kashmir assembly elections today.
In Jharkhand, over 59 per cent voted despite the shadow of Maoist
violence.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
1. Despite the bitter cold, the 15 seats of J&K where polling was held
today recorded 51.2 per cent voter turnout till 2 pm. The state had
recorded over 50 per cent in previous elections.
2. No militancy-related incident was reported today. Polling was briefly disrupted at Barsoo in Ganderbal
district after clashes broke out between two groups, but resumed
soon. Elections were held today in six seats in the Jammu division, five
segments in the Kashmir valley and four in Ladakh.
3. For the first time there is a four-way battle between the Congress, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's
National Conference, the jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the BJP, which has set itself the target of winning 50 plus
seats in the 87-member assembly, with an eye on forming government.
4. In Jharkhand, polling was held in 13 of 81 constituencies in the first
phase, all spread over six districts that are described as "Maoist- affected" - Palamau, Gumla, Lohardaga, Chatra, Garhwa and
Latehar. Polling was held till 3 pm, under high security. Three helicopters made aerial surveys.
5. As in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP hopes to replicate its success in the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections last month in Jharkhand. But while it has never before been seen as a major political
player in J&K, in Jharkhand, the BJP has ruled for nine of the 14 years that the state has existed.
6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted this morning, "As polls
begin in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, I urge my sisters and
brothers in these states to go out and vote in large numbers," and
also, "I particularly call upon my young friends in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand to come out in large numbers and cast their votes."
7. The Congress was part of the ruling alliance in both states in
partnership with regional parties and in both, broke away just before the elections - from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in October and the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir in July.
8. In the national elections this year, the BJP registered its best performance ever in Jammu and Kashmir, winning three of six Lok
Sabha seats. The PDP had won the other three, with the Congress-
National Conference alliance routed. In Jharkhand, the BJP had won 12 of the 14 parliamentary seats.
9. In the run-up to the J&K elections, the BJP tried to draw former separatists and fringe groups. Sajjad Lone, a former separatist and chief of the People's Conference, met PM
Modi in Delhi. He has not ruled out a post- election alliance with the BJP.
10. Elections in both states are being held in five phases till December.
Votes will be counted
on December 23.
