59% turnout in J&K in first phase, highest in past 7 polls

Jammu: A turnout of about 59% — the highest in the past seven elections — was recorded in the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, chief electoral officer P K Pole said, adding polling passed off peacefully.
However, he said the figures are tentative and there might be a fractional increase after the final reports are received from the remote pockets and postal ballots.The first phase of polls covered 24 seats across seven districts.
Briefing mediapersons here after polling ended at 6 pm, Pole said there are reports of some minor incidents of scuffle or argument from a few polling stations but "no serious incident" occurred that could have forced a repoll.
“The polling percentage of 59% is highest in the past seven elections -- four Lok Sabha polls and three assembly elections,” he said. Kishtwar district recorded the highest 77% turnout, while Pulwama district witnessed the lowest 46%, Pole added.