59% voting recorded in J-K as first phase passes off peacefully

About 59 per cent voting recorded in first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir

September 18, 2024 7:46 pm

About 59 per cent voting recorded in first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir, said Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole.

58.19% voting recorded in J&K till 5 pm

September 18, 2024 5:39 pm

Around 58.19% voting was recorded in J&K till 5 pm in the first phase.

50.65 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

September 18, 2024 4:01 pm

41.17% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm

September 18, 2024 1:52 pm

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections: 41.17% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India

Anantnag-37.90%
Doda- 50.81%
Kishtwar-56.86%
Kulgam-39.91%
Pulwama-29.84%
Ramban-49.68%
Shopian-38.72% pic.twitter.com/urAeZzuhXt

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

J-K Cong expels Srinagar district unit president for entering poll fray as Independent

September 18, 2024 12:32 pm

The Congress in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday expelled a district unit president and some other leaders from the basic membership of the party for going against the spirit of its alliance with the National Conference (NC) and contesting as Independents in the assembly polls. "Breach of alliance unity shall not be tolerated," a spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said. He said the party has expelled Srinagar district president Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan and two others from the basic membership of the party.

Your vote for INDIA bloc will ensure return of your rights: Rahul to people of J-K

September 18, 2024 12:01 pm

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha 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. Voting was underway on Wednesday for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370. Twenty-four constituencies spread over seven districts of the Union territory are voting in the first phase. "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.

26.72% turnout till 11 am

September 18, 2024 11:51 am

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections: 26.72% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India

Anantnag-25.55%
Doda- 32.30%
Kishtwar-32.69%
Kulgam-25.95%
Pulwama-20.37%
Ramban-31.25%
Shopian-25.96% pic.twitter.com/VRFWB182rp

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

Voters from across Anantnag

September 18, 2024 11:07 am

Indelible Mark on the finger leads to indelible impact on our democracy!

Happy Faces of voters from across Anantnag. @ECISVEEP@ceo_UTJK @diprjk @ddnewsSrinagar pic.twitter.com/rpbekKxtuf

— Deputy Commissioner Anantnag (@DCAnantnag) September 18, 2024

NC workers spotted with voter lists in Pulwama's Sirnoo

September 18, 2024 10:31 am

NC workers stationed outside polling booths in Sirnoo Pulwama with voter lists, influencing voters, right outside the polling booth, which is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Request @basharatias_dr @dcpulwama @ECISVEEP @ceo_UTJK to take immediate action. pic.twitter.com/QEqCnhAIA7

— Mohit Bhan موہت بھان (@buttkout) September 18, 2024

11.11% voter turnout till 9 am

September 18, 2024 9:49 am

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections: 11.11% voter turnout recorded in Jammu and Kashmir till 9 am, as per the Election Commission of India pic.twitter.com/ouCB0af95W

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2024

In the Kashmir division, the polling will be conducted in 16 seats:

September 18, 2024 9:34 am

In the Kashmir division, the polling will be conducted in 16 seats: Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East and Pahalgam. Eight seats fall in Jammu division: Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban and Banihal. The prominent candidates in the first phase include Congress general secretary and former J&K unit president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti, senior CPM leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, prominent PDP face Waheed Para and Jamaat-backed Kulgam candidate Sayar Ahmad Reshi. The National Conference and the Congress have been contesting under a pre-poll alliance while the Jamaat-e-Islami and Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party forged a “strategic pact” last week. Jamaat has entered the fray for the first time in over 35 years. It is backing several Independent candidates too.

23,27,580 voters, 219 candidates

September 18, 2024 9:31 am

J&K election officials said of the 23,27,580 voters, 11,76,462 are men, 11,51,058 women and 60 of third gender. About 5.66 lakh voters are in the age group of 18 and 29 years and 1.23 lakh of them are aged 18 to 19 years. As many as 3,276 polling stations had been established and all would be covered under webcasting, said officials. Twenty-four polling booths each would be managed by women (called ‘Pink Polling Stations’), differently abled and youth, they said. Twenty-four green polling stations have also been established to spread the message about environmental conservation. Of the 219 candidates in the fray, the maximum 64 are in Anantnag district, followed by 45 in Pulwama, 27 in Doda, 25 in Kulgam, 22 in Kishtwar, 21 in Shopian and 15 in Ramban.

Prominent candidates

September 18, 2024 9:30 am

J&K Cong ex-chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija, CPM’s Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, PDP’s Waheed Para, Jamaat-backed Sayar Ahmad Reshi

Maximum 64 candidates in Anantnag

September 18, 2024 9:30 am

Of the 219 candidates in the fray, the maximum (64) are in Anantnag district, followed by 45 in Pulwama, 27 in Doda, 25 in Kulgam, 22 in Kishtwar and 21 in Shopian. Twenty-four polling booths each will be managed by women (called ‘Pink Polling Stations’) and differently-abled. 24 constituencies going to the polls in the 1st phase 16 of these seats in Kashmir division 8 segments fall under Jammu division 7 districts — four in Kashmir, three in Jammu — covered 219 nominees in the fray 23.27 lakh voters eligible to exercise franchise

Every single vote counts: Kharge to J-K voters

September 18, 2024 9:18 am

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday urged voters in Jammu and Kashmir to remember who is responsible for the "travesty" of downgrading a state to a Union Territory when they cast their vote. Kharge asserted 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. In a post on X, Kharge said, "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, the Congress president said."We appeal to all, especially first-time voters, to participate in this crucial election and be the catalysts for change," he said. "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," Kharge said. "Let us unite and shape a brighter future for Jammu and Kashmir, where the voices of all citizens are heard," he added.

PM Modi urges people to vote in large numbers as polling in J&K begins

September 18, 2024 8:58 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the people in Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers 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," Modi said in a post on X. "I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise," he said.

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 18, 2024

Amit Shah urges people of J&K to vote against separatism, joblessness

September 18, 2024 8:45 am

Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers to form a government which is committed to education of the youth, employment, empowerment of women and ending separatism. Shah also said that only a government with a strong will can create a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir, protect the rights of the citizens there, and speed up development work."Today, my appeal to the voters going to exercise their franchise 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, employment, empowerment of women and ending separatism and nepotism in the region," the BJP leader wrote on X in Hindi. The home minister also asked people to go for vote before having the breakfast by saying 'Pehle matdan phir jalpan'.

23.27 lakh voters in 24 Assembly constituencies of seven districts

September 18, 2024 8:34 am

As many as 23.27 lakh voters in 24 Assembly constituencies of seven districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian in the Valley and Banihal, Kishtwar and Doda in Jammu division will decide the fate of 219 candidates on Wednesday. Authorities have made extensive arrangements of security for the first phase of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Given the high voltage campaign done by various political parties and their candidates, voter turnout is likely to exceed the 58 per cent recorded during the recent Lok Sabha polls.