KL Report
SRINAGAR
After the first phase of polls that witnessed the participation of 71 per cent of registered voters, eyes are set on second phase scheduled to be held on Tuesday in 18 assembly segments of Jammu and Kashmir.
175 candidates are in fray including four ministers of the outgoing government. There are 7.32 lakh registered voters who would decide the fate of 175 candidates who are contesting from 18 out of 87 assembly segments.
Reports informed KNS that there are 934 polling booths set up for the poll process being held in JK during the second phase. Nine constituencies are likely to witness to neck to neck fight between PDP and NC.
In Handwara also, the contest is going to be exciting as Sajad Lone in his Sunday poll rally displayed his might that dropped jaws of many political big wigs of the region.
Handwara, which is a militant prone area, 12 candidates are in the fray including NC’s Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, who is seeking re-election from the constituency. Ramzan represented the constituency in the Legislative Assembly four times since 1983. Even though he lost to an Independent candidate Sofi Ghulam Mohdi-Ud-Din in 2002, Ramzan won the 2008 Assembly election by a margin of 11, 590 votes. This time Ramzan is entering into direct fight with PC’s Sajad Lone. The constituency witnessed more than 75 percent polling in 2008.
Reports informed that there are seven candidates in Karnah, 12 candidates in Kupwara, nine in Lolab, 12 in Handwara and 11 in Langate. He stated that police has pressed into service all the necessary arrangements so that people could cast their votes sans any fear.
The DIG north added that Special Forces for Law and order have also been deployed in the region and the quick reaction teams will also prove helpful in maintaining peaceful polling day on Tuesday.
Mr Bhat also said that district Kupwara has been fragmented into 10 zones so that poling in the area could be held in the most conducive manner. He maintained that dozens of ‘trouble mongers’ have been kept in preventive custody so that they could be thwarted in disrupting the poll process.
