New Delhi, Sept 18: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were according to "our expectations" and a proof of condemnation of terrorism. He expressed confidence that the voter turnout would go up in the remaining three phases. "It is a big thing. It is according to our expectations," Vajpayee told reporters when asked how he felt about the first phase of polling being comparatively peaceful.
"It is clear the people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace and are keen to live in harmony," Vajpayee said on return here after a week-long visit to the US.
"Some more phases are left. I am confident that the number of voters will go up in the remaining phases," he said.
The Prime Minister, who met US President George Bush and several world leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting, described it as a "good trip".
He was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, cabinet colleagues, US ambassador Robert Blackwill, army chief S Padmanabhan, air force chief S Krishnaswamy and naval vice chief J C D'silva. Bureau Report