61.65 per cent voting was recorded today for 15 Assembly seats in four districts of Jharkhand for the fourth phase in which 217 candidates were in fray. AIR Ranchi correspondent reports that this time increase in voting percentage was from three to 13 percentage for individual seats, while the overall increase is 8 per cent in comparison to last Assembly election of 2009.
Meanwhile, campaign for the fifth and last phase is in full swing in Jharkhand. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah addressed several rallies in the Santhal region of the State. In his rally at Pakur, Mr. Shah attacked Congress party and asked the party to give account of its 60 years of rule, before asking that from the six-month old BJP government at the Centre.
In Jammu and Kashmir 49 per cent polling was recorded in 18 assembly segments, spread over three districts of Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian in Kashmir valley which went to polls in the 4th phase of five-phased elections along-with two assembly segments of Samba district in Jammu Division today.
According to state Chief Electoral Officer, Umang Narula these figures are tentative and the percentage may rise further as the final figures were yet to be received from remote polling stations. He said that in 2008 Assembly elections, 45 per cent polling was recorded in these constituencies. Vijaypur Assembly segment in Samba district recorded maximum 81.31 per cent polling while in Kashmir valley, maximum polling 68.53 per cent was recorded in Pahalgam constituency of Anantnag district. Sonawar Assembly segment in Srinagar where from from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is contesting recorded 44.17 per cent polling while in Anantnag constituency where from Peoples Democratic Party Patron Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed is contesting recorded 38.67 per cent.
AIR correspondent reports, with this the fate of 182 candidates including that of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah , his three ministerial colleagues, J&K Legislative Assembly Speaker, Peoples Democratic Party , patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and some sitting MLAS has got sealed in the Electronic Voting machines(EVMs). Ignoring the boycott call given by separatists and braving cold weather, voters have again a clear rebuff to separatists that they cannot be cowed down by their diktats. By turning out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right, people of J&K State especially Kashmir Valley have sent out a loud and clear message that it wants the problems facing the state resolved through democratic process and that they believe in Ballot and not bullet. With the fourth phase, the polling process has come to an end in Kashmir Valley as in the 5th and final phase all the 20 seats of three districts of Jammu Division viz Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri will be going to polls on December 20.
