News Brief
Voting in Jammu-Kashmir
The voting for the last phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is being held today (1 October). A voter turnout of 44 per cent was reported till 1 pm.
The maximum voter turnout, of above 50 per cent, was reported in Udhampur and Kathua. Samba followed closely, while Baramulla reported the least voter turnout.
Among the assembly constituencies, those reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reported higher voter turnouts like Akhnoor, Gurez, Marh, Ramgarh and Ramnagar.
Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a multi-polar fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) contesting on their own.
The National Conference and Congress are in alliance on 85 seats and in a 'friendly contest' on five seats. Engineer Rashid's party has formed an alliance with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
Several smaller parties like Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party and several Independents are also in the fray. The votes will be counted on 4 October.