J&K Assembly Election Phase 1 Highlights | Kishtwar witnesses highest turnout at 77.23%, Pulwama lowest at 46.03%

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.

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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

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

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

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.

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Polling is going on peacefully in all the places. Voters have turned out in large numbers: Ramban, Kishtwar, and Doda Range DIG Shridhar Patil

This is a festival of democracy in its true sense and people of J&K are able to experience it for the first time: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

It is important that people choose their representatives. Even though it will be a toothless government in UT: Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir

58.19% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in the first phase of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly election, as per ECI

Polling concludes for first phase in Jammu and Kashmir

Polling across 24 ACs in 7 districts was incident-free and peaceful: Election Commission of India

58.85% voter turnout in the 24 districts of phase 1: ECI

Kishtwar witnessed the highest voting percentage - 77.23% and Pulwama the lowest - 46.03%

Independent candidate from Udhampur East, Pawan Khajuria releases manifesto for the J&K Elections

Approx 59% polling in first phase shows Jamhooriyat is flourishing: J-K LG