Polling Begins For Second Phase of Jammu and Kashmir Elections

Srinagar : Voting began this morning in 18 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir for the second of the five-phased assembly elections in the state.

So far, people have mostly stayed indoors due to cold weather and heavy fog engulfing the Kashmir valley.

Polls are being held amid tight security in Kulgam and Kupwara districts following recent attacks on sarpanches or village heads by militants.

As many as 18 Assembly segments, spread over five districts - two in the Valley and three in Jammu region - will decide the fate of 175 candidates which includes the lone woman minister in the National Conference-Congress coalition government, Sakina Ittoo as well as the deputy speaker, four ministers and 11 other sitting MLAs,

Of the 18 constituencies, Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district will be the focus of attention as separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone makes his debut in the Assembly elections after unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha polls in 2009.

Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and PDP leader Sartaj Madni will be seeking a third consecutive term from Devsar Assembly segment.

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All but two sitting MLAs are seeking re-election in the second phase. While Chaudhary Mohammad Aslam (Congress), who won in 2008 from Surankote, died this year, PDP has not fielded Sardar Rafiq Khan from Mendhar in view of poor health.

Reasi will be another constituency under keen observation as sitting MLA Baldev Raj is contesting as an independent after winning on a BJP ticket in 2008.

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Kulgam constituency in south Kashmir will also be in focus as the CPI(M)'s face in Jammu and Kashmir, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, is seeking a fourth consecutive term.

Ramanagar in Udhampur is having the least number of candidates at six while Chenani, Gulabgarh and Karnah have seven each.

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A total of over 12 lakh voters will exercise their franchise at 1,900 polling stations in the second phase.