Voters stand in a queue to cast their votes during the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, in Pulwama district.
Credit: PTI Photo
Srinagar: Voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir's three-phase Assembly elections began Wednesday, with 41.17 per cent turnout recorded by 1 pm across 24 constituencies in seven districts.
This marks the first assembly polls in a decade and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Approximately 2.3 million voters, including 5,66,000 young people, are eligible to vote for 219 candidates. Among the youth, there are 1,23,960 first-time voters aged 18 to 19, with 10,261 males and 9,329 females.
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To ensure smooth voting, the Election Commission has set up 3,276 polling stations, featuring 100 per cent webcasting across the constituencies, including 302 urban and 2,974 rural locations. With a high-profile campaign from various political parties, voter turnout is projected to reach 70 per cent.
Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference and former chief minister, emphasised on the importance of these elections after a decade, urging support for candidates from the National Conference-Congress alliance.
Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla and Awami Ittehad Party chief Engineer Rashid hoped that people will vote against the “enemies of Kashmir, who only betrayed us".
“I hope people will consider all the things and will vote for Awami Ittehad Party,” he said.
PDP candidate from Pulwama Assembly constituency, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said the message is to come out and vote, and democratically participate in this festival. “Elections are happening after 10 years. For us, voting is an act of self-preservation,” he said.
Prominent candidates include Iltija Mufti from the People’s Democratic Party, AICC general secretary Gulam Ahmed Mir, veteran CPIM leader M Y Tarigami, former ministers Pirzada Sayeed of Congress and NC’s Sakina Itoo.
Security has been heightened at polling stations, with special arrangements for elderly voters, women, and those with disabilities. Additionally, security measures have intensified in anticipation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in Srinagar on Thursday.