Srinagar: Voting for 21 constituencies in the seventh and final round of the Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir began amid tight security and overcast sky on Wednesday.
"The voter turn-out was low this morning due to chilly conditions. However, polling staff and security personnel took up their positions at 1,872 polling booths by 0730 hrs IST," an official source said.
Fate of 393 candidates, including former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, former speaker Tara Chand, two sitting MPs, six former ministers and four ministers of state would be decided in the polls.
There are also 31 women candidates and 151 independents trying their luck in this phase of elections.
As many as 70,000 personnel of Central security forces have been deployed in and around the polling booths set up for over 16.91-lakh electorate, including 8,22,671 women voters in Srinagar, Jammu and Samba districts.
Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting from two constituencies - Hazratbal and Sonawar - is the most prominent figure among the candidates.
As compared to the 2002 Assembly elections when 221 candidates were in the fray, this time a record number of 393 candidates including 31 women and 151 independents are trying their luck in the 21 constituencies.
Jammu-West constituency has highest number of candidates -- 34. It is followed by 29 in Amirakadal, 27 in Bishnah, 26 in Sonawar, 25 in Nagrota, 21 each in Habbakadal and Akhnoor, 20 in Jammu-East, 19 each in Vijaypur and Suchetgarh, 18 each in Batmaloo and Hazratbal, 17 in Gandhinagar, 16 in Zadibal, 15 in Marh, 14 each in Idgah and R S Pura, 12 in Samba, 11 Raipur-domina, 10 in Khanyar and seven in Chhamb.
Srinagar District Election Officer Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said in order to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, the administration has taken various measures to prevent impersonation, bogus voting and disruption in poll process.
Security measures for electors, contesting candidates and polling staff have been made in a comprehensive manner, he said adding that in order to maintain law and order and avoid any breach of peace and public tranquility, inter-district and inter-constituency movement has been restricted.
Movement for except for bonafide electors, contesting candidates, authorised polling agents, polling staff and people on medical emergencies, has been restricted, he said.
Persons having security cover have also been asked to move only for casting their votes.
Seeking cooperation from the public in the peaceful and transparent conduct of final phase of elections in Srinagar district, Kakroo appealed to people not to create any situation which would vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and hamper the exercise of right of franchise.
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