The first phase of voting in Jammu & Kashmir saw a cumulative voter turnout of 11.11 per cent as of 9 am on September 18, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI). According to the latest data issued by ECI, Kishtwar recorded a voter turnout of 14.83 per cent as of 9 am taking the lead while Pulwama recorded 9.18 per cent voter turnout.
Anantnag recorded 10.26 per cent, Doda 12.90 per cent, Kulgam 10.77 per cent, Ramban 11.91 per cent and Shopian 11.44 per cent voter turnout as of 9 am, as per the ECI.
District Election Officer, Doda Harvinder Singh said, “Voting has started in polling stations. We are getting to see a lot of enthusiasm from the people. I hope that this time we will be able to record the voter turnout well. A very good polling exercise is going on in a free and fair manner…Those who are sitting at home, they should come out of their houses and exercise their voting rights…”
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Athar Aamir said there were long queues of people at several polling stations.
“Elections are happening very smoothly everywhere, voting is happening at our 372, 372 polling stations. Mock poll was completed at 7 AM at 100 per cent polling stations. There are long queues at several polling stations. We have kept web casting camera stations as well and we monitor them from the district level control room. We also monitor every polling station from here. We are expecting a very good voter turnout. All arrangements are in place…Over 1300 polling agents are present at different polling stations across Jammu & Kashmir,” the DC Kulgam said.
Polling for the first phase of the Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections began at 7 am today amid tight security arrangements. The voting will conclude at 6 pm. Long queue of voters were seen at polling stations from the morning. In the first-phase, 24 assembly constituencies across the Union Territory are voting today, that includes 16 seats in the Kashmir region and 8 seats in the Jammu region.
BJP leader Altaf Thakur said that the people of Jammu & Kashmir are keen to get their voice heard through this democratic process.
“People are very excited and have been standing in long queues to cast their votes since 6 am. Jammu and Kashmir has changed. People want to get their voices heard through democracy. Kashmir has now rejected terrorism, separatism, bombs, grenades and bullets and has chosen the ballot paper and wants to express itself through the ballot paper. After 2019, people are proud of Indian democracy and today people are coming out to exercise their democratic rights. It seems that PM Modi’s slogan of New Jammu & Kashmir has become successful now,” Altaf Thakur said.
Jammu & Kashmir JD(U) president GM Shaheen said that the election will break turnout record.
“I told you that this election will break records. Today’s election is against dynasty politics in Jammu & Kashmir…I am confident that this election will break records and the voter turnout will be the highest in the country. People were very upset and people were waiting for the election. This election is for the government, for a good government,” Shaheen said.
As first phase of polling begins, PM Modi appealed to the voters in the constituencies to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. In a post on X, PM Modi also called upon first-time voters to exercise their franchise.
“As the first phase of the Jammu & 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,” PM Modi said.
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Polling for the first phase of the Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections began at 7 am today amid tight security arrangements. The voting will conclude at 6 pm. Long queue of voters were seen at polling stations from the morning.
In the first-phase, 24 assembly constituencies across the Union Territory are voting today, that includes 16 seats in the Kashmir region and 8 seats in the Jammu region. Voting for the second and third phase in Jammu & Kashmir will be held on September 25 and October 1 respectively. Counting of votes will be held on October 8.
This marks the first Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
(with inputs from ANI)
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