JAMMU:Stage is set for the fifth and final leg of Assembly polls in the state on Saturday in which several high-profile candidates, including Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, will try their luck in 20 seats spread over three districts of Jammu amid a strong security deployment.
After a record voter turnout in the previous four phases, particularly in Kashmir Valley, there are expectations of a high voter turnout in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts in Jammu region as well.
With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making a determined push for power in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time, all eyes are on the saffron party. Political pundits believe saffron partys performance in the last phase of the election will decide the fate of the party in the state.
The 87-seats in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly are spread in three regions; Jammu (37), Kashmir (46) and Ladakh (4). BJP which never won a seat in the past is now making roads in the valley. Saffron party may not be expecting many seats in Kashmir region as the region is Muslim-dominated and it has not much influence in the valley.
The last phase of the elections becomes important for BJP as it will decide the fate of 20 seats of Hindu-dominated Jammu region where the party has a stronghold. For assuming power in the state, the BJP is aiming at 44+ mission. To achieve its goal, it is must for the BJP to win most of the seats from Jammu region.
Of the 20 seats going to polls, the BJP represented 11 in the outgoing Assembly. The BJP not only will try to retain those 11 seats but also add some more to its kitty. In the Lok Sabha Elections 2014, BJP won both Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda from the Jammu region. Will the BJP maintain its winning momentum in assembly elections too? We will get the answer on 23 December when the counting is scheduled to take place.
Unfazed by the November 27 militant attack in Arnia border belt of Jammu district in which 12 people including five civilians and four militants were killed, high-pitched campaigning continued till last evening.
“All measures and arrangements have been put in place for tomorrow’s polls,” Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Division, Shant Manu told .
Manu said 400 companies of security personnel (each company as approximately 100 personnel) will be deployed for tomorrow’s polling apart from the regular deployment of police forces.
As many as 18,28,904 eligible voters, comprising 9,59,011 men and 8,69,891 women, are expected to exercise their franchise at 2,366 polling stations set up across the three border districts.
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