J-K Assembly Election Phase 1 Highlights: Nearly 60% Turnout Recorded Till End Of Polling; Kishtwar Logs Highest Polling Percentage

A turnout of about 59 percent -- the highest in the past seven elections -- was recorded in the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said, adding polling passed off peacefully. However, he said the figures are tentative and there might be a fractional increase after the final reports are received from the remote pockets and postal ballots. 

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), 50.65% voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in Jammu and Kashmir.

Anantnag-46.67%

Doda- 61.90%

Kishtwar-70.03%

Kulgam-50.57%

Pulwama-36.90%

Ramban-60.04%

Shopian-46.84%

Voting was halted briefly at a polling station in Bagwan Mohalla, Kishtwar following a protest here over the identification of voters, however, voting has been resumed. Responding to the incident, Kishtwar DM Rajesh Kumar Shavan said that it was confusion and the situation was normal.

"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," said Shavan.

Jammu Kashmir on Wednesday recorded 41.17 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm in the first phase of polls. According to the ECI, Kishtwar recorded a 56.86 per cent turnout followed by Doda 50.81 per cent, Ramban 49.68 per cent, Kulgam 39.91 per cent, Shopian 38.72 per cent, Anantnag 37.90 per cent and Pulwama 29.84 per cent.

Anantnag-37.90%

Doda-50.81%

Kishtwar-56.86%

Kulgam-39.91%

Pulwama-29.84%

Ramban-49.68%

Shopian-38.72%

J-K Assembly Polls: According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu-Kashmir recorded 41.17% voter turnout till 1 PM.

Voting was halted briefly at a polling station in Bagwan Mohalla, Kishtwar following a protest here over the identification of voters.,

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Voting was halted briefly at a polling station in Bagwan Mohalla, Kishtwar following a protest here over the identification of voters. pic.twitter.com/0IFfuA1ZyM, — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

Anantnag-25.55%
Doda- 32.30%
Kishtwar-32.69%
Kulgam-25.95%
Pulwama-20.37%
Ramban-31.25%
Shopian-25.96%

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged people in Jammu and Kashmir to vote for the INDIA bloc, saying every such vote will ensure the return of their rights and bring employment.

"My brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir, today the first phase of voting is being held. For the first time in the history of the country, a state's statehood has been taken away and it has been made a union territory - this is a violation of all your constitutional rights, an insult to Jammu and Kashmir," Gandhi said in a post in X.

"Your every vote for INDIA will ensure return of your rights, will bring employment, will make women strong, will bring you out of the 'era of injustice'...will make Jammu and Kashmir prosperous again," he said.

"Today, come out of your homes in the largest of numbers possible and exercise your democratic right - vote for INDIA," Gandhi added.

J-K Assembly Election 2024: Khalid Najib Suharwardy, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference candidate for the Doda Assembly Constituency, called on the public to participate actively in the elections, emphasizing the significance of regaining special status for the region.

After casting his vote, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference candidate from Doda Assembly Constituency, Khalid Najib Suharwardy, while speaking to ANI said, "Voting is going on smoothly. There is a good trend. We hope that the National Conference will win. I appeal to the people to come out and vote. This is not an ordinary election, it has come after ten years. We want statehood and special status here. We will fight for that and this is a first step in that direction."

Jammu and Kashmir 1st Phase Assembly Elections: The Election Commission of India (ECI) said that 11.11% voter turnout was recorded in Jammu and Kashmir till 9 AM.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged people in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in "crucial election and be the catalysts for change" as the first phase of polling began in the region.

In a post on X, Kharge said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eager to safeguard their rights and embark on a new era of true development and full statehood.

"As the first phase of voting in 24 Assembly constituencies commences, we urge everyone to exercise their democratic right and vote in large numbers. Every single vote holds the power to shape the future and bring about an era of peace, stability, justice, progress, and economic empowerment. We appeal to all, especially first-time voters, to participate in this crucial election and be the catalysts for change," Kharge said in the post.

"For the first time ever, a state was downgraded to a Union Territory, when you cast your vote, do remember who is responsible for this travesty. Let us unite and shape a brighter future for Jammu and Kashmir, where voices of all citizens are heard," he added.

J-K Assembly Election 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asked the people of the Union Territory to cast vote.

"Only a government with strong will can create a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir, protect the rights of the citizens there and speed up development work," he wrote on X.

"Today, my appeal to the voters going to vote in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections is to vote in large numbers to form a government which is committed to education of the youth here, employment, empowerment of women and ending separatism and nepotism in the region. First vote, then refreshment

J-K Election 2024: BJP candidate from Kishtwar Shagun Parihar cast her vote and also talked to the reporters present at the poll booth. She cited terrorism as a huge problem in the union territory.,

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: After casting her vote, BJP candidate from Kishtwar Shagun Parihar says, "The BJP will form its government in Jammu and Kashmir... The people of J&K want peace... BJP will definitely win... Terrorism is a huge problem. The BJP has reduced terrorism to… pic.twitter.com/KohGg8Za6a, — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

Assembly elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years. The last assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in the year 2014.

J-K Election: Notably, this is the first election Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing after the Centre abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to J-K, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two UTs J-K and Ladakh -- on August 5, 2019.

J-K Polls 2024: Voters were seen standing in queues to cast votes in the Pulwama region of Jammu and Kashmir. ,

#WATCH | J&K: Voters queue up at a polling booth set up in Pulwama as they await their turn to cast their vote.

National Conference has fielded Mohammad Khalil Band from the Pulwama seat, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fielded Abdul Waheed Ur Rehman Para pic.twitter.com/gnr58rQ9q4, — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

J-K Assembly Election 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed all the voters to come forward 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," he wrote on X.

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
Banihal