J&K Assembly Elections Phase I: Voter Turnout Records 58.19% Till 5 PM (image: x.com/ECISVEEP)
The polling in the first phase of Assembly elections is progressing in Jammu and Kashmir. This marks the first Assembly election since 2014 and after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
As per the latest data, voter turnout recorded 58.19% till 5 pm. The polling began at 7 am amid multi-tier security arrangements and 3,276 polling stations are arranged for the first phase.
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As per officials, Inderwal records higher voter turnout at 72.20%, followed by Padder-Nagseni, and Kishtwar at 71.08% and 67.58%, respectively.
J&K Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole told PTI: “Polling is being conducted on a large scale. The way polling is progressing indicates a high turnout. We anticipate over 60 per cent polling. So far, the polling has been peaceful and incident-free.”
In the first phase, 24 assembly segments across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir are in the fray. More than 23.27 lakh voters will decide the destiny of 219 candidates, including 90 independents.
Notably, over 35,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits who are eligible to vote for the first phase will cast their votes in 16 constituencies comprising South Kashmir’s Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam districts. Twenty-four polling stations have been set up for their polling. Besides, six candidates from the Kashmiri Pandits community are also partaking in the fray.
The 24 seats in the polls include Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.
The key candidates in the first phase include CPI (M)’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (Kulgam), Congress’s Ghulam Ahmad Mir (Dooru), PDP’s Abdul Rehman Veeri (Shangus-Anantnag), NC’s Sakina Itoo (DH Pora), PDP’s Sartaj Ahmad Madni (Devsar), PDP’s Iltija Mufti (Srigufwara-Bijbehara), PDP’s Waheed Para (Pulwama), and BJP’s Shagun Parihar (Kishtwar).
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In the morning, PM Modi has urged the people in Jammu and Kashmir “to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy.”
As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 18, 2024
The polling is scheduled to end at 6 pm.
