This Article is From Dec 22, 2014

Jammu and Kashmir Polls: No Victory Rallies in Srinagar as Results are Announced on Tuesday

Jammu and Kashmir Polls: No Victory Rallies in Srinagar as Results are Announced on Tuesday

Voters outside a polling station in Pattan in north of Srinagar on December 9, 2014 (Agence France-Presse photo)

Srinagar: There will be no victory rallies in Srinagar after results of the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir are declared on Tuesday. The winners, however, can celebrate at their respective party headquarters.

This decision by the district administration is based on assessment by security agencies that victory rallies could trigger clashes in the city.

"We have consulted all the major parties. Given the security sensitivities and devastation caused by the recent floods in the city, it was unanimously decided that there will be no victory rallies in Srinagar... we have not thrust the decision on political parties," said Farooq Ahmad Shah, District Magistrate, Srinagar.

The state registered its highest voter turnout in the last 25 years with an estimated 65 per cent of voters casting their votes in the five-phase polls that concluded on Friday.

Exit polls have predicted a hung assembly with the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party emerging as the single largest party with 36 seats in the 87-seat Assembly. The BJP, according to the exit polls, is likely to settle for the second place with 24 seats, falling well short of its 'Mission +44'. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's National Conference, meanwhile, is predicted to end up in the third place with 11 seats.

"There will now be a flurry of exit polls now but I'll wait for the only exit poll that really matters - the one on the 23rd of December (sic)," Mr Abdullah had earlier tweeted.

The fate of over 800 candidates will be decided tomorrow when votes are counted, beginning at 8 am. Results are expected before noon.
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