Sunday, December 28, 2008

Who will be the next CM?




After a lengthy seven-phase election in Jammu and Kashmir, counting of votes for the 87 assembly constituencies will be held today (December 28), in what could be called one of the most keenly-contested democratic exercises in the history of the state.

Results that will install a popular government, ending the nearly six-month long Governor’s rule in the state. Counting of votes will begin at 9 AM across the state, which saw an unexpected high voter turnout of about 62 per cent, despite a boycott call by separatists. The turn-out in the 2002 elections was 43 per cent.

Electoral fortunes of over 1300 candidates will be decided, including former Chief Ministers Gulam Nabi Azad of Congress (Bhadarwal), PDP’s Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (Anantnag) and Mehbooba Mufti (Wachi) and NC’s Farooq Abdullah (Sonawar and Hazratbal) and Omar Abdullah (Ganderbal).

The real snub to separatists was reflected when the eight constituencies of Srinagar, considered their strong-hold, recorded a 20 per cent turn-out — the highest in 20 years. Just five per cent polling was registered in previous elections.

Governor’s rule was imposed in the state after PDP pulled out of the Congress-led coalition headed by Azad in July following Amarnath land transfer controversy.

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