Huge voter turnout is a positive sign of India's democracy, says Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday lauded the high voter turnout in the first phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, stating that it is an indicator of the strength of India's democracy.

"The huge voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand elections is a positive sign of our democracy. I am happy to learn of the huge voter turnout in the first round of voting and it is a positive sign for our democracy," he said.

"Defying threats from militants and naxals, the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand have rejected the ideology of terror and violence," the minister added.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission stated that as of 5 pm, over 70 percent polling was recorded on the first day of the polling in Jammu and Kashmir, with the figure in Jharkhand that of 61.92 percent as at 3 pm.

The polling percentage is higher as compared to both the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year and the previous state assembly polls.