Date:25/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102556361200.htm

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Election process begins in J&K

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: The seven-phase process to elect the new Assembly began on Friday with the notification for the first phase issued by Governor N. N. Vohra.

The Governor, in exercise of powers vested in him under the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957 and as recommended by the Election Commission, has issued the notification for holding the elections in 10 constituencies in the first phase, an official spokesman said.

In the first phase, 10 Assembly constituencies of Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Nobra, Leh, Kargil, Zanskar, Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch Haveli will go to the polls. The nominations for these constituencies will be received till October 31, the spokesman said. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on November 1 and the last date for withdrawals will be November 3. The polling will be held on November 17. This phase will cover four districts.

In Bandipora district, there are three Assembly Constituencies – Gurez, Bandipora and Sonawari. Nobra and Leh constituencies are in Leh district while Kargil and Zanskar constituencies are in Kargil district. The other three constituencies of Surankote, Meander and Poonch Haveli going to polls in the first phase are from Poonch district.

In the newly carved district of Bandipora, there are 1,86,069 voters, including 96,848 males and 89,221 females. The total number of polling stations is 237.

The election process is spread over two months and will conclude on December 24 when elections are slated for the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.