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Second phase polling begins in J&K, Jharkhand

by IBNS 02 Dec 2014, 10:17 am

Srinagar/Ranchi, Dec 2 (IBNS): Polling began in 18 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir and 20 spread across seven Maoist-hit tribal districts of Jharkhand on Tuesday in second of the five-phased state elections.

The voting will seal the fate of 175 candidates in the Valley including a deputy speaker, four ministers and 11 other sitting MLAs amid tight security cordon especially in areas like Kulgam and Kupwara districts after the attacks on village council heads by suspected militants.

Sources said that out of the total 18 constituencies Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district is in focus as separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone is making debut in Assembly polls after unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha polls in 2009.

The first phase of polling that was held on November 25 in Jammu Kashmir witnessed over 71 percent voting in 15 seats.

In Jharkhand, former chief ministers Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda and three ministers are among 223 candidates, including 35 women, contesting from 20 seats - of which 16 seats are reserved for tribals.

Jharkhand has an 81-member Assembly.