Voting in the first phase of the three-phase Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is currently underway across 24 constituencies in seven districts. This election marks a significant event as it is the first Assembly election in the Union Territory in a decade, and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which previously granted special status to the region.
Furthermore, this election is notable as it is the first time Jammu and Kashmir is participating in Assembly elections as a Union Territory after its bifurcation into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Key Details
Over 23 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots for 219 candidates, including 90 independents. The polling covers eight Assembly segments in three districts of the Jammu region and 16 in four districts of the Kashmir Valley.
Voting is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm. The remaining 66 Assembly seats will see polling in two more phases on September 25 and October 1, with the final counting of votes set for October 8.
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By 5 pm, the voter turnout stood at 58.19 percent. According to officials, a voter turnout of 50.65 percent was recorded by 3 pm which was 41.17 percent at 1 pm in the first phase of polling.
Among the assembly segments, Kishtawar led with 77.23 percent of voters, followed by Doda with 69.33 percent, Ramban at 67.71 percent, Kulgam at 59.62 percent and others.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer, PK Pole, stated that polling in the first phase is proceeding smoothly and has been incident-free. “Polling is being conducted on a large scale. The way polling is progressing indicates a high turnout. We anticipate over 60 percent polling. So far, the polling has been peaceful and incident-free,” Pole told a news agency.
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He added that he has been visiting various polling stations set up for Kashmiri migrants in the Muthi area of Jammu city.
Meanwhile, the Congress party expelled its Srinagar district unit president Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan and two other leaders for defying the party’s alliance with the National Conference (NC) and contesting as Independents in the Assembly polls. A spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) stated, “Breach of alliance unity shall not be tolerated.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has called upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir to come out in large numbers and vote for the INDIA bloc.
“Today, come out of your homes in the largest of numbers possible and exercise your democratic right – vote for INDIA,” he posted on X in Hindi, emphasizing that every vote for the bloc will help restore the people’s rights and bring employment opportunities.
The polling is a crucial moment for the Union Territory, reflecting the democratic aspirations of the people and the changing political landscape post-Article 370 abrogation. With peaceful proceedings and a decent voter turnout so far, the first phase is setting the tone for the remainder of the election. Stay tuned for more live updates as the voting continues in this historic election.
