Agencies/Jammu/Srinagar

The fourth phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday saw less than half of the over 1.4mn voters turning out against the over 70% seen in the earlier rounds. Voting was mostly peaceful though stray incidents of violence were reported and a case was slapped against a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for assaulting a poll agent.

In the 18 constituencies with 1.4mn-strong electorate, seven saw less than one-third of the voters turning up. The constituencies were spread over four districts - Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian in the Kashmir Valley and Samba district in Jammu region.

State chief electoral officer Umang Narula said the 50% turnout announced at the closing of polls as per initial estimates had now been revised to 49% after the final figures were received.

The highest turnout was seen in Vijaypur at 81.17%, while the lowest was in Habbakadal with 21.01%, an official said.

He said a first information report (FIR) was registered against BJP candidate Javed Qadri in Shopian constituency for allegedly assaulting a polling agent.

Pahalgam constituency recorded a turnout of 68.53%, the highest in the Kashmir Valley in the fourth phase.

In Amira Kadal constituency in Srinagar district, witnesses accused BJP candidate Hina Bhat of misbehaving with a polling officer.

Angry workers of the National Conference started shouting slogans against Bhat and the BJP after news of the incident spread.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making an unprecedented bid for power in Kashmir.

After winning power at national elections in May, Modi and his BJP are trying to take control of the state’s assembly with a promise of economic development.

The BJP is fielding 32 Muslim candidates across the state, where voters have so far ignored calls from separatists to boycott the election.

Bhat said voters might not like Modi, but like the rest of the country they believed his promise of economic prosperity. 

“People will support Modi because now, like Muslims in India outside Kashmir, they know he delivers,” the dentist-turned politician said.

“The local parties have treated Kashmiri people like cattle,” Bhat, 35, said recently.

“Here (in Kashmir) also people know in their hearts that going with Modi is good for them,” Hina added.

The BJP has traditionally had no base in the Kashmir Valley, where resentment against Indian rule runs high.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in violence between security forces and rebels in Kashmir.

So the idea of the BJP taking even a share of power in Kashmir would have been unthinkable only a few months ago.

But Modi’s landslide national election win, and a meltdown in support for incumbent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after deadly floods in September, have given the BJP hope of a breakthrough.

Backed by a media blitz, Modi himself has addressed four campaign rallies in the state since elections were announced in October, promising economic growth and corruption-free government and steering clear of discussing the territory’s disputed status.

Some analysts said Modi’s “development-only talk” in Kashmir was a simplistic approach.

“No Indian prime minister is going to make a difference in Kashmir unless he addresses the dispute,” said columnist Siddiq Wahid.

But Hina said change would only come to the state through development and not endless talk about independence.

“It is now up to the people whether they want to sulk and crib about their situation or they want a change,” Hina said.

Election results are due on December 23.