Voting begins in 10 seats in first phase of J&K assembly polls

SRINAGAR: Polling for the first phase began in 10 assembly constituencies spread over four districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Voting started at 8:00 am at all 1,038 polling stations in Bandipora, Poonch, Leh and Kargil amid tight security in view of possible attempts by militants to disrupt the polls.

Of the 1038 polling stations, more than half of them have been described as 'hyper sensitive' while the rest have been placed under 'sensitive' category.

Over six lakh electorate will cast their franchise to choose 10 representatives in the most-keenly fought assembly elections in the state's chequerred political history.

Their counterparts in 77 assembly constituencies will cast their ballot in six phases on November 23, 30 and December 7, 13, 17 and 24.

Former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and National Conference leader Mohammad Akbar Lone, former Ministers in the PDP-Congress coalition government -- Usman Majid and Nawang Rigzin Jora, sitting Lok Sabha member Thupstan Chhewang and member of the state Legislative Council and PDP leader Nizamuddin Bhat are among the 102 candidates whose electoral fortunes will be decided on Monday.

The campaign for all the 10 constituencies ended peacefully on Sunday.