PM Modi, Amit Shah Appeal To Vote For 'Freedom From Terror', 'Education' As J&K Goes To Polls After A Decade

Jammu and Kashmir Elections: The first phase of polling for 24 of 90 constituencies began on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in record numbers as polling began for the first phase of elections in the Union Territory on Wednesday. He particularly called upon first-time voters to exercise their franchise in the ongoing polls. 

"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," Modi said  in a post on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also urged to vote for a government that will create "terror-free" Jammu and Kashmir and end separatism and nepotism from the region.

"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," Shah said. 

"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," he added. 

Voting began for the first phase of elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday for 24 constituencies. These include eight seats in the Jammu division and 16 in the Kashmir division with 219 candidates in the fray including 90 Independents. 

The seats where voting is taking place include: 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 and Banihal.