ID :
31896
Mon, 11/24/2008 - 09:22
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/31896
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44 percent turnout in J&K second phase polls till 2 pm
Srinagar/Jammu, Nov 23 (PTI) Ignoring separatists' call for poll boycott and braving freezing cold, an estimated 44.62 percent of the nearly five-lakh-strong electorate exercised their franchise till Sunday afternoon in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections which will decide the fate of National Conference chief Omar Abdullah.
In a minor clash in Darhal constituency, one of the
six seats that went to polls Sunday, in Rajouri district,
police fired in the air to disperse activists of the NC and
supporters of an independent candidate who clashed and pelted
stones at each other, a senior police officer said. Two
persons were injured.
There was also disruption of balloting in the
constituency (Darhal) as an independent candidate alleged
booth capturing by NC workers. There were also reports of
minor clashes between People's Democratic Party (PDP) and NC
workers in the constituency.
Ganderbal, where Abdullah is locked in a
multi-cornered battle, registered a slow voting pace with 35
percent of the electorate turning up at the polling stations,
apparently due to the cold wave conditions.
While around 48 percent voters cast their ballots in
the four constituencies of Rajouri, Kalakote, Darhal and
Nowshera in Rajouri district, 35 percent registered their
choice in the two constituencies of Ganderbal and Kangan in
Ganderbal district till 2 PM, the officials monitoring the
polls told PTI.
The separatists co-ordination committee had given a
call for 'Jehan election waha challo' (march to where
elections are). But apparently the march to Ganderbal did not
materialise due to heavy deployment of security forces.
They said Kalakote and Rajouri witnessed the high
turnout of 50 percent each followed by 49 percent in Darhal
and 46 percent in Nowshera assembly segments.
Kangan recorded 35 percent till 2 PM, the sources
said.
However, people were seen standing in long queues in
most of the assembly segments to exercise their franchise.
As many as 4,93,878 voters are eligible to cast their
ballot at 530 polling booths in Ganderbal, Kangan, Noshwsera,
Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote constituencies in the second
phase of assembly elections.
There were some complaints of defects in electronic
voting machines in Nowshera and Kalakote assembly segments,
election department officials said, adding that they were
replaced later.
The electoral fortunes of 81 candidates, including
Abdullah and former PDP Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, will be
decided Sunday.
The fate of Ghulam Ahmad Rather (Cong), Radhay Sham
Sharma (NC), Romesh Chander Sharma (Cong), NC rebels Choudhary
Talib Hussain and Mohammad Sharief Tariq and Congress rebel
Ashok Kumar Sharma will also be decided in this phase.
Abdullah is locked in a triangular contest with PDP's
Afzal and Sheikh Ishfaq Ahmad of Congress though there are
nine others also in the fray. The former minister had defeated
Abdullah in 2002.
As many as 97 companies of the paramilitary forces
have been deployed in 530 polling stations in the two
districts.
Voters in ten assembly constituencies of Bandipora,
Poonch, Leh and Kargil cast their vote on November 17. PTI AMS
DEP
In a minor clash in Darhal constituency, one of the
six seats that went to polls Sunday, in Rajouri district,
police fired in the air to disperse activists of the NC and
supporters of an independent candidate who clashed and pelted
stones at each other, a senior police officer said. Two
persons were injured.
There was also disruption of balloting in the
constituency (Darhal) as an independent candidate alleged
booth capturing by NC workers. There were also reports of
minor clashes between People's Democratic Party (PDP) and NC
workers in the constituency.
Ganderbal, where Abdullah is locked in a
multi-cornered battle, registered a slow voting pace with 35
percent of the electorate turning up at the polling stations,
apparently due to the cold wave conditions.
While around 48 percent voters cast their ballots in
the four constituencies of Rajouri, Kalakote, Darhal and
Nowshera in Rajouri district, 35 percent registered their
choice in the two constituencies of Ganderbal and Kangan in
Ganderbal district till 2 PM, the officials monitoring the
polls told PTI.
The separatists co-ordination committee had given a
call for 'Jehan election waha challo' (march to where
elections are). But apparently the march to Ganderbal did not
materialise due to heavy deployment of security forces.
They said Kalakote and Rajouri witnessed the high
turnout of 50 percent each followed by 49 percent in Darhal
and 46 percent in Nowshera assembly segments.
Kangan recorded 35 percent till 2 PM, the sources
said.
However, people were seen standing in long queues in
most of the assembly segments to exercise their franchise.
As many as 4,93,878 voters are eligible to cast their
ballot at 530 polling booths in Ganderbal, Kangan, Noshwsera,
Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote constituencies in the second
phase of assembly elections.
There were some complaints of defects in electronic
voting machines in Nowshera and Kalakote assembly segments,
election department officials said, adding that they were
replaced later.
The electoral fortunes of 81 candidates, including
Abdullah and former PDP Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, will be
decided Sunday.
The fate of Ghulam Ahmad Rather (Cong), Radhay Sham
Sharma (NC), Romesh Chander Sharma (Cong), NC rebels Choudhary
Talib Hussain and Mohammad Sharief Tariq and Congress rebel
Ashok Kumar Sharma will also be decided in this phase.
Abdullah is locked in a triangular contest with PDP's
Afzal and Sheikh Ishfaq Ahmad of Congress though there are
nine others also in the fray. The former minister had defeated
Abdullah in 2002.
As many as 97 companies of the paramilitary forces
have been deployed in 530 polling stations in the two
districts.
Voters in ten assembly constituencies of Bandipora,
Poonch, Leh and Kargil cast their vote on November 17. PTI AMS
DEP
