Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir began voting in the second phase of Assembly elections on Sunday. Voters were seen in small numbers outside polling stations early in the morning because of the cold weather and morning chill. "The voting process would pick up as the day warms up and we are expecting a fairly good voter turnout in both Kangan and Ganderbal," a poll official was quoted as saying.
There are six constituencies going to polls in the second phase, all of them in Srinagar and Rajouri districts. They are Kangan, Ganderbal, Nowshera, Darhal Rajouri and Kalakote.
Eighty-one candidates are in the fray and about 4.9 lakh voters are entitled to cast their vote. They comprise 2,56,462 males and 2,37,416 females, including 2,926 service voters.
The electoral fortunes of 81 candidates, including NC's chief ministerial nominee Omar Abdullah and former PDP minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, will be decided in this phase.
Nearly half of the 530 polling stations have been described as 'hyper sensitive' while the rest have been named under 'sensitive' category.
The centre of attraction will be Ganderbal where Abdullah is locked in a triangular contest with Afzal and Sheikh Ishfaq Ahmad of Congress though there are 9 others in the fray. Afzal had defeated Omar in 2002.
“While I'm cautiously positive, I hope the people of Ganderbal will accept,” he said.
Mian Altaf Ahmed of the NC is seeking a fourth straight victory from Kangan constituency.
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 tomorrow.
Two women candidates Sheraz Begum (BSP) and Mohinder Kour (Independent) are also trying their luck.
Ten constituencies spread over four districts went to polls in the first phase on November 17.
Meanwhile, Baramulla is tense, after two youth protesting against polls are shot dead by police and guards of a Congress candidate on Saturday. The government ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
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