J&K Assembly Election Phase 1 Highlights | Kishtwar witnesses highest turnout at 77.23%, Pulwama lowest at 46.03%Hello readers, elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in three phases and the first round of voting for 24 seats concluded today. It will be followed by polling for 26 seats in the second phase on September 25. The voting for 40 seats in the third phase will be held on October 1 while the counting of votes will be held on October 8. In the first phase, seven districts, located on either side of the Pir Panjal mountain range, voted for the first time in an assembly election in 10 years. 58.85% voter turnout was recorded in the 24 districts of phase 1. Stay tuned to DH for the latest updates from across the country and around the world!
Voters stand in a queue to cast votes at a polling station during the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, in Anantnag district of J&K, Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
Security forces check vehicles ahead of first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls
Polling station in Kishtwar set up especially for women voters
Kashmiri Pandits urge action on longstanding issues, say politicians see us merely as voters
Nearly 35 years after the mass exodus of 1990, many in the community feel that political parties have repeatedly failed to address their concerns.
Preparations, mock polls underway at a polling booth in Banihal Assembly Constituency
24 Assembly constituencies across the J&K (16 in Kashmir and 8 in Jammu) are going to polls in the first phase, scheduled for today. This marks the first Assembly elections in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Via ANI
Watch: Visuals of mock voting from a polling booth in Kadoora
Pink polling booth in Kishtwar
Pink polling booth, manned fully by women, has been set up in J&K's Kishtwar district
People queue up outside polling booth in Naira as voting set to begin shortly
Polling for 24 Assembly constituencies across Jammu & Kashmir begins
This marks the first Assembly elections in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Strengthen the festival of democracy, says PM Modi
Don't want what happened with me to happen to anyone else: Shagun Parihar
Batting for security while contesting the polls on a BJP ticket, Parihar, whose father and uncle were killed in a terrorist attack said "I want every daughter here to have her father's blessings..."
Mohd Altaf Bhat, backed by Engineer Rashid's party, casts vote
"I appeal to the people to come out and vote as it is our democratic right and choose a good candidate. Assembly elections are being held after 10 years and people are happy and are coming out to vote," he said. (ANI)
People queue up to cast their votes; politicians react
As J&K is witnessing its first polls in around 10 years, a long line was seen outside the booth in Doda. Watch visuals here
PDP leader and spokesperson Mohit Bhan blamed it on BJP actions
JKNC's Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo said it was an agitation against inflation and unemployment
BJP's Mohd Saleem Bhat understandably credited PM Narendra Modi and the Election Commission
JKNC candidate from Kishtwar casts vote
BJP's Shagun Parihar offers prayers before casting vote; hopes people give her chance to serve them
Hope people vote against enemies of Kashmir: Baramulla MP
Represent: Kashmiri Pandits show inked fingers after casting their votes
In Pics | Phase 1 of voting under way
Voting in Pulawama
Voting in Pulawama
Voting in Pulawama
Voting in Kishtwar
Voting in Kishtwar
Voting in Pulwama
Parties like JKNC, PDP encouraged terrorism to save their chair, says BJP's Shagun Parihar who lost father, uncle to attack
Remember who downgraded a state for the first time to a Union Territory: Kharge tells J&K voters
Have not forgotten what happened with J&K on Aug 5, 2019: Omar Abdullah
11.11% voter turnout recorded in J&K till 9 am
Voter turnout
Credit: ECI
Mood in favour of Congress, says Ashok Gehlot
Million thanks to Allah elections are taking place, BJP's Shopian candidate Javaid Ahmad Qadri
Each vote you give to I.N.D.I.A. will take you out of 'injustice era, says Rahul Gandhi
Voter turnout till 11 am at 26.72%
Voter turnout
Credit: ECI
Watch | Mehbooba Mufti's mother Gulshan Ara casts her vote
Voting halted briefly at one polling station following protests over identification
Kishtwar DM Rajesh Kumar Shavan said, "There was some confusion among people here, there was a crowd here and it has been resolved. There was some issue regarding identification, one person did not have an identity card. The situation is normal, voting has resumed."
PDP, NC workers entered where polling was taking place, alleges BJP's Shagun Parihar
Watch | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a 'public meeting' organized in favour of BJP candidate Jeevan Lal
J&K records 41.47% turnout till 1 pm
Under PM Modi's leadership a new chapter of development is being written in J&K: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
After the abrogation of Article 370, development has taken place in J&K, terrorism has decreased, tourism has increased: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
People here were hopeless because elections were not been held in the last 10 years: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti
In 2005 the unemployment rate here was 5.67% and now it has gone up three times: Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal
The way people are participating in the voting process, lotus will surely blossom her: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in J&K
Govt said Rs 85 crore in last 5 years, yet only 2.97% of this amount actually invested: Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal in Srinagar
People deserve to have there elected representatives and therefore, it's a welcome step: Iltija Mufti on Jammu and Kashmir elections
As soon as the Congress will form the government, there will be job opportunities for the youths: Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal in Srinagar
J&K elections are being organised in three phases and they are talking about One Nation, One Election, I don't know what does this mean: Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
50.65% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India
Anantnag-46.67%
Doda- 61.90%
Kishtwar-70.03%
Kulgam-50.57%
Pulwama-36.90%
Ramban-60.04%
Shopian-46.84%
PDP will emerge as the number one party in South Kashmir: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti
We are in the field and trust the people and the god: PDP candidate from Devsar constituency, Mohammad Sartaj Madni
No matter how much effort BJP make in Jammu and Kashmir, people are not liking them here: Congress leader Sachin Pilot
We have information that the other party was trying to indulge in malpractices but those claims are yet to be verified, but we have complaints against NC how they are going about manhandling people: Iltija Mufti
Driven by hopes of fresh start, residents turn out to vote in boycott hubs of Kashmir
Historically, residents of Bugam and nearby Jamaat strongholds like Bichroo and Sangas had avoided elections since the onset of armed conflict in 1989.