Srinagar, Dec 17 : Polling for the sixth phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir began this morning.

Voting is being held in sixteen constituencies spread over five districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag and Kulgam. While 10 assembly seats fall the Kashmir valley, six constituencies are in Jammu Division.

More than 11.65 lakh voters, including over 5.62 lakh women, will exercise their franchise. 1,268 polling booths have been set up for the purpose.

The fate of 271 candidates, including 11 women, will be decided in this phase.

Jammu, Dec. 17 : The extended polls in Jammu and Kashmir being held in seven phases has given hoteliers and guest house owners a big reason to smile in the picturesque town of Bhaderwah.

The reason being that the hotel industry had suffered a major slump following the Amarnath land row issue.

Now, during election time, hotels and guest houses are said to be in great demand.

Bhaderwah is also known as Chota Kashmir (Little Kashmir) because of its scenic beauty and snow-clad mountains.

Jammu, Dec. 16 : The sixth phase of elections, for which polling is being held tomorrow, has two former chief ministers of the state in fray, besides a number of ex-ministers and legislators.

Sixteen Assembly constituencies in five districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban will vote in the penultimate phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections on Wednesday.

Srinagar, Dec 16 : Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure that the sixth phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are held in a free and fair manner on Wednesday.

Sixteen constituencies spread over five districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag and Kulgam will go to polls in this phase. While 10 assembly seats fall the Kashmir valley, six constituencies are in Jammu Division.

More than 11.65 lakh voters, including over 5.62 lakh women, will exercise their franchise. 1,268 polling booths have been set up for the purpose.

Two-hundred additional companies of security forces and nearly 100 companies of local police have been deployed in poll-bound areas.

Jammu, Dec. 15 (ANI): Asserting it would support every honest initiative of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to combat terror, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh said today the Mumbai carnage was a major security lapse and stringent action should be taken against those responsible for this.

Rajnath Singh told reporters here, UPA government should also put pressure on Pakistan to dismantle the terror network on its soil and take action against perpetrators of the deadly assault on Mumbai.

Bhaderwah (J-K), Dec 15 : Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are focussing on development issues to woo voters as the seven-phased elections are nearing completion in the state.

Addressing an election rally in the Bhaderwah constituency, People''s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday that the people of the state should vote keeping in my mind which political party can address issues related to development and unemployment.