Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Elections Live: Overall Poll Percentage Across Three Phases At 63.45 Per Cent, ECI Says
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The three-phased Assembly Election in J&K come to conclude with the last and third phase poll today. Elections Commission of India, had issued formal schedule on 16th August 2024. Poll for 24 Assemblies was held on 18th September, second phase for 26 Assemblies on 25th September and last phase was held today for 40 Assembly Constituencies. Poll percentage in 1st phase was 61.38 %, in 2nd phase it was 57.31 %, and in the last third phase poll percentage was 68.72 % (tentative). The overall poll percentage comes to 63.45% (tentative).
The three border districts of Kashmir -- Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara -- registered a voter turnout of 60 per cent with traditional boycott bastions of Sopore and Baramulla towns witnessing the highest turnout in an election in the last three decades. However, the turnout in the 16 Assembly segments of these three districts on Tuesday was nearly 5 per cent less than what was recorded in the 2014 Assembly polls. The third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls was held on Tuesday. The polling in the 40 Assembly segments across seven districts, including the winter capital Jammu, began at 7 am and concluded at 6 pm. The votes will be counted on October 8. (PTI)
Visuals from a polling booth in Samba after the third and final phase of polling concludes
DSP (Operations) Sukhbir Singh who got injured in an encounter at Billawar in Kathua district cast his vote at a polling station at Tehsildar officer in Udhampur today. His wife also cast her vote.
Election Commission of India (ECI) says, "Elections to the phase 3 of the Assembly Elections in J&K recorded 65.48% polling as of 5 PM today which is going to surpass the Lok Sabha 2024 voter turnout in these 7 districts which was 66.78%. The voter turnout in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the ongoing assembly elections in J&K also recorded higher turnout than 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While 7 districts in phase 1 recorded 61.38% in these assembly elections, it was 60% in LS 2024 elections. Similarly, 6 districts that went for polls in phase 2 recorded 57.31% in these assembly elections and had 52.17% turnout in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections."
Independent candidate from Sopore Assembly seat, Ajaz Ahmad Guru tells ANI, "I have participated in this election so that full statehood is restored in J&K. The people should choose a representative who will work for J&K. Only when there will be peace, issues of J&K will be resolved."
65.48% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
- Bandipore-63.33%
- Baramulla-55.73%
- Jammu-66.79%
- Kathua- 70.53%
- Kupwara-62.76%
- Samba-72.41%
- Udhampur-72.91%
56.01% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
- Bandipore-53.09%
- Baramulla-46.09%
- Jammu-56.74%
- Kathua- 62.43%
- Kupwara-52.98%
- Samba-63.24%
- Udhampur-64.43%
People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone tells ANI, "We do not go into the number game. But I think it will be good...We are equidistant from all parties, we faced issues in alliances last time as well. So, we are on our own. We want to contest alone."'
On Article 370 and 35A, he says, "We too are in the favour of restoration. That is the voice of the local public and us..."
"As an ordinary Kashmiri, our aim of casting vote is to elect a representative who can take our concerns to the Assembly, but it will be possible only when there will be a CM. However, it is UT and CM does not have that much authority and L-G has powers. I would like to urge the central government to give our state (statehood) back," said Aijaz Ahmad Guroo, Independent candidate from Sopore seat, earlier today. (PTI)
J&K: Polling Stations in Udhampur district are under surveillance through CCTV cameras; a control room with live feed is set up at the conference hall of the DC Office. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur and District Election Officer Saloni Rai tells ANI, "The control and communication centre of district Udhampur has been made at the DC Office complex...All the polling stations have a webcasting facility...We are continuously monitoring the polling stations...there are a minimum of two cameras in all the polling stations...All the vehicles on polling duty have GPS in them so that tracking can be done...A good command centre has been setup"
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said, "Complete arrangements have been made at the polling stations...about 12% voting has been done till 9 am. Voting is going on peacefully everywhere..."
Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers, saying "This is the final chance to teach a lesson to those who snatched statehood from the people of Jammu and Kashmir."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to come forward to vote. "Remember, this election is about the self-respect of the state, it is about the rights of the people of the state," he said.
Jammu And Kashmir Assembly Phase 3: The Union Territory recorded a voter turnout of 11.60% Till 9 AM, the Election Commission said.
Bandipore-11.64%
Baramulla-8.89%
Jammu-11.46%
Kathua-13.09%
Kupwara-11.27%
Samba-13.31%
Udhampur-14.23%
An 80-year-old woman voted at a women-manned polling station in the final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
Long queues of voters can be seen in Udhampur during the third phase of polling.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh and his family members show their inked fingers after casting their vote, at a polling booth in Bahu Assembly Constituency for the third and final phase of polling for J&K Assembly Elections 2024.
Baramulla MP and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) President Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid said that the increased voting percentage in Jammu and Kashmir is the result of people being victims of state repression.
"The voting percentage has increased because people have been victims of state repression...the voice of the people has been suppressed since the PDP came to power in 2014," said the Baramulla MP.
"People want to express their feelings and they want change because they have understood that they can achieve something only through democratic means. Violence has no place in society...the people of Kashmir have always believed in democracy. They also wanted a democratic solution to the Kashmir issue. I hope an era of reconciliation will begin after the voting," he added.
A voter from the Valmiki community, part of refugees from West Pakistan expressed his happiness as the community gets to vote for the first time in assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I am very happy... I am 50 but I am casting vote for the first time. Things are changing now," said a voter.
"It feels like a caged bird has been set free. Our community had no voting rights for the last 70 years. Valmiki community was kept away from voting process," said another voter.
Security and development of Jammu and Kashmir are some of the key issues on which people are voting in today's polls.
Voters queued up outside polling stations to cast their vote as polling for the third phase of election began at 7 am on Tuesday.
Independent candidate from Baramulla, Shoaib Nabi Lone cast his vote shortly after the polls opened at 7 am. "It is an emotional moment for me... I am myself the candidate. The Election Commission has done a beautiful thing... first voter will plant a tree. We wish all the voters best of luck, and I feel that today polling will be good, and we will win," he said.
"People expect a lot from us. If we are voted to power, we have to do lot of work for the public. People have lot of expectations," he added.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad cast his vote in Jammu shortly after polling for the third phase began. He urged people to come out and vote. "I appeal to people to come out and vote. The political party that comes to power should resolve the issues. I will not speak against or in favour of any party. Voters will decide whether (majority) will be given to a single party or not...," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to cast their vote and make the festival of democracy a success. "Today is the third and last round of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. I request all voters to come forward and cast their votes to make the festival of democracy a success. I am confident that apart from the young friends who are going to vote for the first time, women power will also participate in the voting in large numbers," Modi said in a post on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the voters of Jammu and Kashmir to cast a 'historic' vote for the all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir. Polling has begun on 40 assembly segments across seven districts to seal the fate of 415 candidates.
{Jammu and Kashmir needs a government that is visionary and can take strong decisions for security, peace and stability here," Shah said in a post on X. "Today, the people voting here in the last phase should use their vote power to form a government that keeps Jammu and Kashmir away from terrorism, separatism, nepotism and corruption and is determined to protect the rights of every section. Cast a historic vote for tourism, education, employment and all-round development in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
Voters have started to queue outside polling stations as voting will begin shortly.
Voters have started to queue outside polling stations as voting will begin shortly.
Proper security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and terror-free election, said Jammu zone Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Anand Jain.
People's Conference chairperson Sajjad Lone, who is contesting from two seats in Kupwara and National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh, contesting from the Chenani seat in Udhampur are key candiates in this phase.
Other prominent candidates include former ministers Raman Bhalla (R S Pura), Usman Majid (Bandipora), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurez), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Basharat Bukhari (Wagoora-Kreeri), Imran Ansari (Pattan), Ghulam Hassan Mir (Gulmarg), Choudhary Lal Singh (Basohli), Rajiv Jasrotia (Jasrota), and Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar).
One of the key highlights of the Tuesday voting will be the casting of votes by West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj and the Gorkha community. These groups attained voting rights in assembly, urban local bodies, and panchayat elections after the abrogation of Article 370. Earlier they had participated only in the elections to the block development council and district development council in 2019 and 2020.
As many as 39.18 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the third phase of voting on Tuesday. The polling will be conducted by over 20,000 polling officers across 5,060 polling stations.
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Bahu asssembly constituency Vikram Randhawa offered prayer at the Bawe Wali Mata Mahakali Mandir ahead of the third phase of polling. Taranjit Singh Tony from Congress and Varinder Singh from PDP are in the fray from this seat.
The Tuesday voting will take place in 40 Assembly segments across seven districts: Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in the Jammu region and Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north Kashmir.
The high-stakes battle in Jammu and Kashmir is set to enter its final leg with voting for the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections today. The electoral fate of 415 candidates, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand (Congress) and Muzaffar Beig will be sealed today.
Background
Jammu Kashmir Assembly Election Live: Stay tuned with ABP Live for all the latest updates as we bring you comprehensive coverage of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024.
J&K Polls: Around 39 Lakh Voters To Decide Fate Of 415 Candidates In Final Phase
More than 20,000 polling staff were deployed on Monday across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir in preparation for the third and final phase of assembly elections, which will decide the outcome for 415 candidates, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig. The elections, set for October 1, will see 39.18 lakh eligible voters casting their ballots at 5,060 polling stations, covering 40 assembly segments in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara.
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K Pole stated that voters will cast their ballots in 24 assembly constituencies in the Jammu region and 16 in the Kashmir Valley during this critical phase.
Notably, this phase marks the participation of West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community, who were granted voting rights in assembly, urban local body, and panchayat elections after the abrogation of Article 370. Previously, they could only vote in block development council and district development council elections in 2019 and 2020.
Among 415 candidates, notable contenders in the fray include People's Conference chairperson Sajjad Lone, contesting from two seats in Kupwara, and National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh, contesting from the Chenani seat in Udhampur. Other prominent candidates include former ministers Raman Bhalla (R S Pura), Usman Majid (Bandipora), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurez), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Basharat Bukhari (Wagoora-Kreeri), Imran Ansari (Pattan), Ghulam Hassan Mir (Gulmarg), Choudhary Lal Singh (Basohli), Rajiv Jasrotia (Jasrota), and Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar).
According to PTI, Anand Jain, Jammu zone Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), assured that adequate security measures are in place to ensure a peaceful and terror-free election. Thousands of election staff, equipped with polling material, departed from district headquarters to their assigned polling stations earlier today.
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