Srinagar: Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh on September 20 said the first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir on September 16 went off "better" than even some of the elections before in the country.

"The first phase has gone better than ever happened in this country since independence," Lyngdoh told reporters after a review of arrangements for the next three phases of polls in the state. The second phase of polling begins on September 24 in 15 Assembly segments in Srinagar and Badgam districts.

To as question, Lyngdoh said he did not see any "lapses" in the conduct of polls in 23 constituencies in the five border districts on September 15.

Whatever needs to be done more for the next three phases is all routine, he said. "Things will always have to be tightened somewhere or other like one does to keep a cycle or a car running," Lyngdoh said.

He also noted that Army was providing security to voters to help them exercise their franchise and dismissed suggestions that it was trying to coerce people to vote.

" They (voters) are not complaining of (coercion). They need an excuse if they are questioned by militants for voting."

The full Commission had already visited the state twice.

PTI