71 pc polling in Jammu and Kashmir, 65 pc in Jharkhand

At least 18 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir went to the hustings in this phase. 

The polling was also held for 20 spread across seven Maoist-hit tribal districts of Jharkhand on Tuesday in second of the five-phased state elections.

In Kashmir, during the first hour voters, including women and elderly people, braved cold weather and were seen standing in long queues outside various polling stations to exercise their franchise.

The second phase voting  sealed the fate of 175 candidates including deputy speaker, four ministers and 11 other sitting MLAs amidst tight security in Kulgam and Kupwara districts after the attacks on village council heads by suspected militants.

Sources said that out of the total 18 constituencies Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was in focus as separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone is making debut in Assembly polls after unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha polls in 2009.

The second phase polling covered 18 constituencies including five in Kupwara district, four in Kulgam, three seats in Reasi, Udhampur and Poonch district each.

The first phase of polling that was held on Nov  25 in Jammu Kashmir witnessed over 71 percent voting in 15 seats.

In Jharkhand, former chief ministers Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda and three ministers were among 223 candidates, including 35 women, contesting from 20 seats – of which 16 seats are reserved for tribals.

Jharkhand has an 81-member Assembly.

The third phase of voting in both the states will be held on Dec 9, fourth phase on Dec  14 and fifth on Dec  20. Counting of votes will be held on Dec  23.