Srinagar:Ignoring boycott call by separatist groups and braving cold weather, moderate polling was today recorded in most of the 15 constituencies going to polls in the first of the five-phased polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Barring couple of stray incidents of violence in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts, polling was by and large paceful. Nearly 16 per cent of the 10.52 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling while serpentine queues could be seen at many polling stations as voters waited for their turn.
According to official figures, Gurez Assembly segment in Bandipora district recorded the highest turnout of 24 per cent in the first two hours of polling till 10.00 AM. Kangan Assem-bly segment in Ganderbal district also recorded a good turnout of 18.50 per cent during the corresponding period.
Bandipora Assembly segment recorded 15.44 per cent polling, followed by Banihal with 14.82 per cent, Ramban with 14.56 percent, and Bhaderwah 14 per cent each, Ganderbal with 13.69.
However, voter turnout was low in Kargil and Leh assembly segments, where the minimum temperatures are eight to 10 degrees below freezing point. Kargil recorded only four per cent turnout in the first two hours while Leh 6.27 per cent.
Zanskar and Nobra segments, also falling in the Ladakh region, witnessed around 9.50 per cent turnout. The average turn-out in other consti-tuencies was 15 per cent. In the 2008 Assembly elections, an average of over 60 per cent polling was witnessed.(PTI) Wani (Doda), Nawang Rigzin Joa (Leh) and Vikar Rasool Wani (Banihal). Besides the ministers who are all sitting MLAs, five legislators are seeking a re-election in the first phase of polls. PDP’s Nizamudding Bhat (Bandipora), Congress candidates Ghulam Mohammad Saroori (Inderwal), Sharief Niaz (Bhaderwah), Ashok Kumar (Ramban) and National Conference’s Tsetan Namgyal (Nobra) are the sitting MLAs seeking another term.
