NEW DELHI, November 25 (Sputnik) — The first round of the five-phase legislative assembly election is underway in India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state, and in the eastern state of Jharkhand amid tightened security, the Election Commission of India said Tuesday.
In Jammu and Kashmir, 15 assembly seats are up for grabs, with 123 candidates in the fray. About one million residents are eligible to vote in the first phase, according to the Election Commission. The ruling National Conference party is facing stiff opposition from the People's Democratic Party, the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its main opponent, the Indian National Congress party.
In the Indian state of Jharkhand, rich in natural resources, a total of 199 candidates are running for 13 seats. Over 3 million local residents are eligible to cast their ballots, according to the Election Commission. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is coming under pressure from the BJP.
Security has been tightened in Jharkhand after Maoist rebels killed a dozen people in April 2014, prompting then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to describe the rebels as the greatest threat to India's stability. Police presence has also been increased in Jammu and Kashmir, which borders Pakistan and China.
State assembly elections in India are held every five years unless the assembly is dissolved.
