Zurich, Sept 16: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today voiced satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it was free and fair with a reasonably good turnout.

"It was free and fair with a reasonably good turnout," he said.
Vajpayee, who arrived here after a five-day visit to New York, spoke to J&K governor G K Saxena and inquired about the elections in the state, official sources said.
Saxena informed the Prime Minister that the first phase was peaceful and the turnout was good.
He told Vajpayee that the poll percentage in the valley was 40, in Jammu 48 and Ladakh 67.
There was no rigging and the first phase passed off peacefully despite the recent killings, infiltration of militants and threats by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, Saxena told the Prime Minister, the sources said.
Vajpayee will be leaving for home tomorrow.
Bureau Report