Jammu: Voting for the first phase in six Assembly constituencies in three districts of Jammu started this morning amid tight security arrangements. Peaceful polling in six assembly segments of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts started with enthusiast voters reaching the polling booths to exercise their franchise. “Due to chill, rush of voters was not seen though the number is likely to increase in afternoon,’ said an official from Doda.
The fate of 60 candidates comprising sitting ministers and MLAs from National Conference and Congress from Jammu will be sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines. Three sitting ministers including Congress Minister for Works Abdul Majeed Wani from Doda, National Conference Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo from Kishtwar and Congress Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool Wani from Banihal besides a former Congress Minister G M Saroori are among 60 contestants left in fray from these constituencies.
In Kishtwar (10), Inderwal (12), Doda (11), Bhaderwah (13), Ramban (SC) (8) and Banihal (6) candidates are in fray. Star campaigners like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP National President Amit Shah, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and President Mehbooba Mufti had campaigned for their respective candidates.
Meanwhile, over 200 polling stations have been declared hypersensitive and sensitive in these Assembly segments. “After identifying various locations, over 200 polling stations have been declared as hypersensitive and sensitive in six assembly segments in Doda (Bhaderwah, Doda), Kishtwar (Kishtwar, Inderwal) and Ramban (Ramban, Banihal),” an official here said.
He said in Kishtwar district 129 polling stations have been identified as hypersensitive and 100 as sensitive. “Most of the polling booths identified as critical or sensitive are located in the remote belts of the district,” he added and said security personnel were deployed for free and fair polling.
He further said in Ramban district, around 25 polling stations have been declared as hypersensitive and 22 as sensitive. (Agencies)
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