After the completion of first four rounds of polling in Jammu & Kashmir, all eyes are now set on the fifth and the final round of polling on 20 Assembly seats in Jammu region on Saturday as it is most likely to throw new ‘power matrix’ in the State Assembly.
In the final round of polling over 18.28 lakh voters would decide political future of 213 candidates across 2366 polling stations in three districts of Jammu region.Prevailing intense cold wave conditions and thick fog may slow down the rate of polling in the early hours on saturday but the leaders of all political parties,sitting with their fingers crossed, are hopeful of a healthy turnout in the second half of the day.
The Election Commission authorities have also made elaborate security arrangements to ensure free and fair polling. According to official sources, around 400 companies of para military forces would maintain strict vigil in and around polling stations to ensure peaceful culmination of poll process in the State. High alert has been sounded in border areas of Jammu division to prevent any infiltration bid from across the border. Braving adverse weather conditions jawans of BSF have been patrolling the international border to maintain a tight vigil.
Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar on Friday claimed elaborate security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of peaceful polling in fifth phase of elections in Jammu division on Saturday. Chairing a high-level security meeting of police, para-military and Intelligence agencies held at Police Control Room (PCR), the DGP said that elaborate security arrangements have been made around the polling booths for smooth and peaceful conduct of polling in these constituencies.
According to political observers, “if the first four phases were significant in deciding the major political party, the final round of polling is set to trigger new political realignments in the State”. The overall voter turn out in the last phase and the pattern of voting in key Assembly segments across three districts of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri would determine new ‘power matrix’ before the election results are declared on December 23.
Between 2002-05, Congress shared power with PDP and opted for the post of Chief Minister on rotational basis as per the previous understanding. In 2008, it chose to remain junior partner under the leadership of National Conference Chief Minister for the full term of six years. If in 2014 the Congress manages to retain its seats and further consolidate its tally in the State legislature, it would continue to share power in the State. On the other hand if Congress loses its base in Jammu region and in its place BJP emerges front runner with majority seats from Jammu region, it may influence the power sharing arrangement especially in the wake of aggressive push by the party high command to hold strings of power in their hands in J&K Assembly.