Second phase of J&K assembly polls records over 56% turnout

SRINAGAR: More than 56% voters on Wednesday exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling for 26 seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls .

The polling passed off peacefully, officials said.

Addressing a press conference here, J&K Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said the second phase recorded a turnout of 56.05%.

Pole said the percentage was tentative as polling was going on at some places like Hazratbal and Reasi.

"The polling was overall peaceful. Some stray incidents like arguments, etc took place, but there is no need for re-poll anywhere," he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar described the ongoing polls in J&K as "history in the making", saying people are standing in long queues outside polling booths at places where calls were once given to boycott the democratic exercise.

During the second phase, a 16-member delegation of foreign envoys visited the valley to witness the polls.

This is perhaps for the first time since the eruption of insurgency that international observers were allowed to witness the elections in J&K .

However, the move drew criticism from former chief minister Omar Abdullah who said the polls in J&K were an internal matter of the country.

The members of the foreign delegation expressed satisfaction over the conduct of polls, with some of them saying the process looks comparable to how it happens in their own countries.