Srinagar: Continuing the positive trend of high voting percentage set by the first four phases, the fifth and the last leg of Legislative Assembly elections for 20 segments in Jammu region witnessed a remarkable turnout.
Unprecedented security arrangements along the India-Pakistan border and hinterland ensured that voting was by and large peaceful with more that 76 per cent of the eligible electorate coming out to press the EVM buttons in 20 Assembly constituencies in three districts of Jammu region - Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua. However, a minor clash between PDP and BJP workers was reported in Jammu region.
Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zitshi said over 76 per cent voters exercised their right to franchise in the fifth phase of Assembly elections across 20 Assembly constituencies.
It is a do or die situation for the BJP as the party not only has to retain 10 seats it won in 2008 elections, but it also has to completely sweep this phase to be in a position to be a part of a coalition government. The party had won 11 seats in the last Assembly elections.
On the other hand, Congress is leaving no stone unturned to retain all the five seats it won in 2008 Assembly elections in order to maintain its political relevance in the state. The Congress ministers who are in the fray include Deputy Chief Minister and state Education Minister Tara Chand, Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla and Manohar Lal Sharma.
Eleven Assembly constituency of Jammu district witnessed an overall voter turnout of 73.84 per cent.
Chhamb constituency, which in the last election recorded 78.35 per cent polling, witnessed a voter turnout of 82 per cent. Tara Chand, who in 2008 won by a margin of 2395 votes, is seeking re-election for the fourth time from the constituency. Even though there are 10 candidates in the fray, the constituency is expected to witness a triangular contest between Congress, BJP and PDP.
Akhnoor constituency, which in 2008 Assembly elections witnessed 79.68 per cent polling, recorded a voter turnout of 89.17 per cent. Congress candidate Sham Lal Sharma, who in 2008 Assembly elections won by a margin of 13884, is seeking re-election for the third time. However, it will be an uphill task for Sham Lal Sharma to retain his seat following strong anti-incumbency feeling against the state government. There are eight candidates in the fray, but the main contest will be between Congress and BJP.
Around 60 per cent polling was recorded in Gandhi Nagar, which in the last election recorded a voter turnout of 64.66 per cent. Congress candidate Raman Bhalla, who is seeking re-election for the third time, in 2008 won by beating his nearest rival and BJP candidate Nirmal Singh by a margin of 2263 votes. Even though there are 11 candidates in the fray from the constituency, the main contest is likely to be between Bhalla and BJP candidate Kavinder Gupta.
Marh constituency, which in 2008 election recorded 81.97 per cent polling, witnessed a voter turnout of 82.45 per cent. BJP candidate Sukhnandan Kumar, who in 2008 elections won by a margin of 6581 votes, is seeking re-election for the second time from the constituency. The main contest is likely to be between Kumar and Congress candidate Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, who has represented this constituency two times - 1996 and 2002.
Bishnah Assembly segment from where 15 candidates are in the fray witnessed a voter turnout of 80.22 per cent. The constituency in the last election recorded a voter turnout of 75.40 per cent. Bishnah constituency is currently represented by an Independent candidate Ashwani Kumar Sharma, who is seeking re-election for the third time. Sharma in the last election won by beating his nearest rival and BSP candidate Kamal Verma by a margin of just 446 votes.
Nagrota constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 81 per cent, against 79.33 per cent recorded in 2008. Around 66 per cent voters came out to exercise their franchise in Jammu east, against 60.71 per cent in the last election.
Jammu west recorded a voter turnout of 65 per cent, against 60.86 polling in 2008, while 77.79 per cent voters came out in Ranbir Singh Pura to exercise their franchise.
Suchet constituency saw a voter turnout of 80 per cent, while Raipur Domana recorded 77.41 per cent polling.
He said 79.68 per cent electorate came out to exercise their franchise in five Assembly constituencies of Kathua district.
Around 80.47 per cent voters came out to exercise their franchise in Kathua constituency, which in 2008 Assembly election witnessed a voter turnout of 67.22 per cent. As many as 15 candidates are in the fray, including Independent candidate Charanjit Singh, who is seeking re-election. Singh had won the last election as an Independent candidate by a margin of 2,363 votes.
Billawar constituency, which in the last election recorded 71.39 per cent polling, witnessed a voter turnout of 77.60 per cent. Congress candidate Manohar Lal Sharma, who in the last election won by a margin of 8383 votes, is seeking re-election from the constituency for the third time.
He said Bani recorded 83.20 per cent polling; Basohil witnessed a turnout of 78.50 per cent, while 80.17 per cent voters came out to exercise their franchise in Hira Nagar.
Meanwhile, four Assembly segments of Rajouri district in Jammu region witnessed 77.84 per cent voter turnout.
He said Nowshera saw a voter turnout of 81.70 per cent while Darhal witnessed 81 per cent polling.
In Rajouri constituency, 75 per cent voters came out to exercise their franchise, while Kala Kote witnessed a turnout of 74 per cent.
(Abid Soffi is the Managing Editor 'Kashmir Pioneer')
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