Bigwigs, passionate appeals on show as campaigning ends for 2nd phase

Ruling and opposition bigwigs led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi locked horns on the political stage as campaigning for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir polls ended on Monday evening.

The blazing campaign saw emotional appeals to people and uncouth remarks about rivals, as the leaders tried to woo voters of 26 constituencies spread across six districts of the union territory, including the summer capital Srinagar.

There are 25.78 lakh eligible voters in the penultimate phase of the three-phase Assembly elections. An estimated 61.38 per cent of the electorate cast their ballots in the first phase of polling on September 18, while the third phase of elections covering the remaining 40 Assembly segments will go to polls in the final phase on October 1. The votes will be counted on October 8.