On whether the flood furry will have an impact on polling percentage in the state, Sampath said there was no such information. “The stake holders have told the Commission there won't be much of impact on the voter turnout,” he said.
Notification for the first phase of polling in the state having 72.25 lakh voters will be issued on October 28. The first phase of polling on November 25 will cover 15 assembly seats. These include three in Baramulla, two in Srinagar, four in Ladakh and six in Udhampur. Nine each assembly seats in Kashmir and Jammu regions will be going to polls in the second phase on December two. Of these, maximum of six are in Udhampur, five in Baramulla, four in Anantnag and three in Jammu.
The notification for the second phase will be issued on November seven with date of polling December two. The third phase, for which polling will be held on December 9, will cover remaining seven seats of Baramulla Parliamentary constituency, five seats in Budgam of central Kashmir and four from Anantnag.
The fourth phase, for which notification will be issued on November 19 and polling held on December 14, will cover nine assembly seats of prestigious Srinagar city, seven remaining seats of Anantnag and two from Jammu parliamentary seat.
Five seats of Udhampur Parliamentary seat and 15 of Jammu area, covering the nine assembly seats of Jammu city, will go to polls in the final phase on December 20. The term of the present Assembly was till January 19, next year.
The CEC said steps have been taken to ensure free and fair elections by creating an atmosphere in which each elector is able to access the polling station without being obstructed or being unduly influenced or intimidated by anybody.
As many as 10,015 polling booths will be set up for facilitating 77.25 lakh voters to exercise their franchise. In last assembly elections held in 2008, the state had witnessed a good voter turnout of 61 per cent during seven-phased polling despite winters and decided the fate of 1354 candidates which included 517 independents.
Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, General Secretary J&K National Conference said “We opposed the elections at this point of time because we felt that this is not the opportune time as the people are battling the aftermath of the flood tragedy that has befallen the state”. He said this was the time to focus on relief and rehabilitation rather than go for polls.
