Amidst security alert about possible Maoist attacks on politicians in Jharkhand and militant groups' poll boycott call in Jammu and Kashmir, voting has begun for the first of the five-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand.
The first phase of ths assembly elections is covering 15 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, where 12 sitting MLAs, including seven ministers, are among 123 candidates are trying their luck, and 13 Maoists-affected constituencies in Jharkhand.
While in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah- led National Conference (NC) is fighting against main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), BJP and Congress in a multi-cornered contest, ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be seeking to retain power in the face of a challenge by BJP.
19:18 IST Tuesday, 25 November 2014
61.92% votes polled in first phase in Jharkhand
A total 61.92% votes were cast in the first phase of polls in 13 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand amidst sporadic incidents of damage to EVMs. "The percentage (of votes) could be updated later," an official with the Election Commission here said. Read More
Jammu and Kashmir Polls: 70% voting in first phase, up by 9% from last time
Defying separatists' election boycott call and braving cold weather, voters turned out in large numbers today to record over 70% 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 2-3% as voting was going on at some places even after closure of voting at 4 pm. Read More
15:39 IST Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Jammu and Kashmir Polls: Ignoring boycott calls nearly 33% voting recorded till noon
Ignoring boycott call by separatist groups and braving cold weather, nearly 33% polling was recorded till noon, in most of the 15 constituencies going to polls in first of the five-phased polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Read more
Latest updates:
12:30 IST Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Sporadic incidents were reported in the ongoing first phase of the staggered five-stage Assembly elections in 13 constituencies in Maoist-hit areas of Jharkhand today where 26.5 percent votes were cast in the first four hours of polling. Chief Electoral Officer PK Jajoria said barring reports of a couple of sporadic incidents, voting was "progressing peacefully with an impressive turnout of voters". A landmine was detected at Hariharganj under Hussainabad Assembly constituency in Palamau district and was defused, he said.
11:00 IST Tuesday, 25 November 2014
The poll percentage till 10 am in Bandipora was 15.44%, Sonawari 16.70%, Kangan 17.45% and Ganderbal 15.93% which is a good turn out in early hours despite poll boycott call given by the separatist politicians in the valley.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges voters to go out and vote in large scale.
8:00 IST Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Six constituencies in Jammu division are voting to elect their representatives, the electorate in five segments in Kashmir and four in Ladakh will seal the fate of the aspirants.
The assembly segments going polling today include Kishtwar, Inderwal, Doda, Bhaderwah, Ramban and Banihal (in Jammu division); Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Kangan and Ganderbal (in Kashmir), Nobra, Leh, Kargil and Zanskar (in Ladakh).
A total of 10,502,50 voters, including 5,49,698 males and 5,00,539 females, besides 13 transgenders are eligible to exercise their right to franchise in the first phase of the polls in J ammu and kashmir.
Bhaderwah has the largest number of 1,04,354 voters among the 15 constituencies, while Nobra constituency in Ladakh region has the lowest with 13,054 voters.
Seven ministers are seeking re-election in the first phase - Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi (from Gurez), Mohammad Akbar Lone (Sonawari), Mian Altaf (Kangan), Sajad Kichloo (Kishtwar), Abdul Majid Wani (Doda), Nawang Rigzin Joa (Leh) and Vikar Rasool Wani (Banihal).
Besides the ministers who are all sitting MLAs, five legislators will be seeking a re-election in the first phase of polls. They are PDP’s Nizamudding Bhat (Bandipora), Congress candidates Ghulam Mohammad Saroori (Inderwal), Sharief Niaz (Bhaderwah), Ashok Kumar (Ramban) and National Conference’s Tsetan Namgyal (Nobra) are the sitting MLAs seeking another term.
In Jharkhand, adequate security forces have been deployed in all the 13 constituencies where 33,61,938 voters, with nearly half of them women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect their representatives from among 199 candidates in the fray.
All 13 seats are spread over the six Maoist-affected districts of Palamau, Gumla, Lohardaga, Chatra, Garhwa and Latehar.
The polling will continue till three PM, according to Election Commission sources.
Ten sitting MLAs of different parties are again testing their fate in their respective constituencies while there are several former MLAs too in the fray.
Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Krishna Nand Tripathi of the Congress is the lone minister in the Hemant Soren cabinet contesting from Daltonganj.
Former ministers Kamlesh Singh (NCP) and Bhanu Pratap Sahi (Navjawan Sangharsh Morcha), both on bail in connection with corruption charges, are contesting from Hussainabad and Bhawanathpur constituencies respectively.
Also in the fray are ex-ministers Sudha Choudhary (JDU-Chhatarpur), Radha Krishna Kishore (BJP-Chhatarpur) and Girinath Singh (Garhwa-RJD’s Jharkhand unit chief).
The RJD, which is also supporting the Soren government, had fielded seven candidates, but nomination of one of its candidates was rejected.
The BJP, which has fielded 12 candidates and allotted one seat to pre-poll ally Ajsu Party, retained its sitting MLA Harikrishn Singh from Manika (ST).
The JVM has fielded 11 candidates and is supporting two Trinamool Congress candidates from Gumla and Manika constituencies.
The other parties contesting the election include BSP which has fielded 12 candidates, CPI six, CPI-M two, INC seven, NCP five, AJSU Party one, TMC two, and RJD six besides 72 independent candidates.
(With agency inputs)
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