Jammu-Kashmir Election Highlights — ‘Peaceful Polling Overall, No Instances Of Repoll’: Chief Electoral Officer
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There was not a significant change from 2014 in the voter turnout in the 24 segments that voted in phase one of Jammu and Kashmir polls on Wednesday, the first assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
According to the Election Commission, the tentative voter turnout for the 24 assembly seats spread over seven districts stood at 59 per cent. This figure may go up slightly as some of the polling stations are located in remote areas of the Pir Panjal Mountain range.
According to the Statistical report of the Election Commission of India on the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly polls, the voter turnout in these districts was 60.19 per cent. (PTI)
Peaceful polling overall in J-K, there are no instances where we have to go for repoll, Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said. About 59 per cent of voting was recorded in the first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir, he mentioned. (PTI)
EVM being sealed at a booth in Pulwama as polling concludes for the first phase of the Assembly polling in J&K
Check Total Voter Turnout Till 5 PM
| S No | District | District Wise Turnout | Constituency | Constituency Wise Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anantnag | 54.17% | Anantnag- 44 | 41.58% |
| 2 | Anantnag West- 43 | 45.93% | ||
| 3 | Dooru- 41 | 57.90% | ||
| 4 | Kokernag(ST)- 42 | 58% | ||
| 5 | Pahalgam- 47 | 67.86% | ||
| 6 | Shangus- Anantnag East- 46 | 52.94% | ||
| 7 | Srigufwara- Bijbehara- 45 | 56.02% | ||
| 8 | Doda | 69.33% | Bhadarwah- 51 | 65.27% |
| 9 | Doda-52 | 70.21% | ||
| 10 | Doda West -53 | 74.14% | ||
| 11 | Kishtwar | 77.23% | Inderwal -48 | 80.06% |
| 12 | Kishtwar- 49 | 75.04% | ||
| 13 | Padder- Nagseni- 50 | 76.80% | ||
| 14 | Kulgam | 59.62% | D.H. Pora -38 | 65.21% |
| 15 | Devsar- 40 | 54.73% | ||
| 16 | Kulgam -39 | 59.58% | ||
| 17 | Pulwama | 43.87% | Pampore -32 | 42.67% |
| 18 | Pulwama- 34 | 46.22% | ||
| 19 | Rajpora -35 | 45.78% | ||
| 20 | Tral - 33 | 40.58% | ||
| 21 | Ramban | 67.71% | Banihal -55 | 68% |
| 22 | Ramban -54 | 67.34% | ||
| 23 | Shopian | 53.64% | Shopian -37 | 54.72% |
| 24 | Zainapora -36 | 52.64% |
58.19% voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in the first phase of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly election, as per ECI's approximate turnout.
Kathua, J&K: Union Minister Jitendra Singh tells ANI, "... People have voted in large numbers and excitement among people is palpable... This is a festival of democracy in its true sense and people of J&K are able to experience it for the first time..."
On J&K elections, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir tells ANI, "People have decided to peacefully cast their votes as there was no democracy here. It is important that people choose their representatives. Even though it will be a toothless government in UT..."
On the first phase of polling in J&K Assembly elections, Ramban, Kishtwar, and Doda Range DIG Shridhar Patil tells ANI, "... Polling is going on peacefully in all the places. Voters have turned out in large numbers... Adequate security has been deployed in vulnerable and sensitive areas. In addition to state police, we have adequate deployment of CAPF as well. Outer areas have been dominated by the Army. All security forces are working in synergy... People have given a response to terrorists and all acts of terror that have occurred in the recent past by casting their vote..."
Check Detailed Voter Turnout Till 3 PM
| District | District Wise Turnout | Constituency | Constituency Wise Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anantnag | 46.67% | Anantnag- 44 | 34.71% |
| Anantnag West- 43 | 39.51% | ||
| Dooru- 41 | 50.50% | ||
| Kokernag(ST)- 42 | 50% | ||
| Pahalgam- 47 | 58.89% | ||
| Shangus- Anantnag East- 46 | 45.34% | ||
| Srigufwara- Bijbehara- 45 | 48.30% | ||
| Doda | 61.90% | Bhadarwah- 51 | 58.32% |
| Doda-52 | 62.13% | ||
| Doda West -53 | 66.75% | ||
| Kishtwar | 70.03% | Inderwal -48 | 72.20% |
| Kishtwar- 49 | 67.58% | ||
| Padder- Nagseni- 50 | 71.08% | ||
| Kulgam | 50.57% | D.H. Pora -38 | 55.14% |
| Devsar- 40 | 46.34% | ||
| Kulgam -39 | 50.75% | ||
| Pulwama | 36.90% | Pampore -32 | 35.70% |
| Pulwama- 34 | 40.20% | ||
| Rajpora -35 | 38.63% | ||
| Tral - 33 | 32.87% | ||
| Ramban | 60.04% | Banihal -55 | 59% |
| Ramban -54 | 61.38% | ||
| Shopian | 46.84% | Shopian -37 | 48.40% |
| Zainapora -36 | 45.40% |
PDP candidate from Bijbehara Assembly constituency Iltija Mufti tells ANI, "I am happy that people have come here to cast their vote. I have been visiting polling booths since morning and youngsters and elderly all have come out to cast their votes. Delhi should honour this mandate and ensure that this is a free and fair transparent election... We have information that the other party was trying to indulge in malpractices but those claims are yet to be verified, but we have complaints against NC how they are going about manhandling people... Engineer Rashid should be freed."
Kulgam, J&K: PDP candidate from Devsar constituency, Mohammad Sartaj Madni tells ANI, "After 10 years the people here are getting the chance to elect their leaders...We are in the field and trust the people and god...Our party is doing a lot of things for the youths here..."
Mehbooba mufti casts her vote at Bijbehara -- (Reporter: Asif Qureshi)
50.65% voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India's approximate trends.
Anantnag-46.67%
Doda- 61.90%
Kishtwar-70.03%
Kulgam-50.57%
Pulwama-36.90%
Ramban-60.04%
Shopian-46.84%
A voter turnout of 41.17 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said. The voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements. According to officials, the maximum voting percentage among the 16 assembly segments in the Kashmir valley was recorded in Pahalgam at 47.68 per cent. It was followed by D H Pora at 43.66 per cent, Dooru at 41.30 per cent, and Kokernag (ST) at 41 per cent.The lowest -- 26.75 per cent -- was recorded in Tral, they said.Overall in Jammu and Kashmir, the Inderwal seat in the Jammu region recorded the highest poll percentage of 60.01 per cent. (PTI)
BJP candidate Shagun Parihar claims she was shoved at the Kishtwar polling where voting had to be briefly stopped after a ruckus broke out. She alleged NC and PDP workers even threatened her.
Jammu and Kashmir election: The polling percentage were quite healthy in Kishtwar and Doda, with the two districts recording 56.86% and 50.81% voter turnout, respectively, at 1 PM.
Jammu and Kashmir Elections: Voting was halted briefly at a polling station at Bagwan Mohalla in Kishtwar due to a protest over the identification of voters. See the video of the incident video. Strong language. Viewers' discretion advised.
Jammu and Kashmir Polls: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami is canvassing for BJP's Bani candidate Jeevan Lal. Check out the video.
Jammu and Kashmir elections 2024: Jammu & Kashmir National Conference candidate from the Rajpora Assembly constituency Ghulam Mohi Uddin Mir has cast his vote. He said, "There is a lot of enthusiasm among the public and people are coming out to vote in large numbers...I appeal to everyone to vote and elect their representative so that their concerns can be heard..."
Jammu and Kashmir elections: 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... Terrorism is a huge problem. The BJP has reduced terrorism to a huge extent but the PDP and the National Conference have always tried to break the society. They are going to be wiped out... J&K will be free of terrorism soon..."
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections: BJP candidate from Padder-Nagseni Assembly Constituency, Sunil Sharma says, "I want to congratulate the voters. The way people are coming out of their homes and exercising their right to franchise shows that they have a lot of faith in democracy. This is good news for the Bharatiya Janata Party. You must have seen that whenever the percentage was low here, Congress, or National Conference, or PDP used to win. Because they got protection from terrorists... Today people are participating in the elections with an open heart and the elections are directly a support and dedication towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi..."
Picking up momentum from the 9 AM figure, the Jammu and Kashmir Phase-1 recorded a 26.72% voter turnout till 11 AM today. While Pulwama district recorded the lowest turnout at 20.37%, while Kishtwar continued its lead with a 32.69% voter turnout.
| S No | District | District Wise Turnout | Constituency | Constituency Wise Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anantnag | 25.55% | Anantnag-44 | 16.9% |
| 2 | Anantnag | Anantnag West- 43 | 21.26% | |
| 3 | Anantnag | Dooru-41 | 26.97% | |
| 4 | Anantnag | Kokernag(st)-42 | 29% | |
| 5 | Anantnag | Pahalgam-47 | 31.62% | |
| 6 | Anantnag | Shangus- Anantnag East- 46 | 25.09% | |
| 7 | Anantnag | Srigufwara- Bijbehara- 45 | 27.6% | |
| 8 | Doda | 32.2% | Bhadarwah- 51 | 30.38% |
| 9 | Doda | Doda-52 | 31.96% | |
| 10 | Doda | Doda West -53 | 35.08% | |
| 11 | Kishtwar | 32.69% | Inderwal -48 | 40.36% |
| 12 | Kishtwar | Kishtwar- 49 | 26.38% | |
| 13 | Kishtwar | Padder- Nagseni- 50 | 32.15% | |
| 14 | Kulgam | 25.95% | D.H. Pora -38 | 27.74% |
| 15 | Kulgam | Devsar- 40 | 24.32% | |
| 16 | Kulgam | Kulgam -39 | 26% | |
| 17 | Pulwama | 20.37% | Pampore -32 | 19.6% |
| 18 | Pulwama | Pulwama- 34 | 23.09% | |
| 19 | Pulwama | Rajpora -35 | 21.17% | |
| 20 | Pulwama | Tral - 33 | 17.5% | |
| 21 | Ramban | 31.25% | Banihal -55 | 30% |
| 22 | Ramban | Ramban -54 | 32.85% | |
| 23 | Shopian | 25.96% | Shopian -37 | 27% |
| 24 | Shopian | Zainapora -36 | 25% |
Jammu and Kashmir picked up the initial lull in polling and recorded a voter turnout of 26.72% at 11 AM.
Senior citizens in Jammu and Kashmir are enthusiastic about choosing their Assembly representatives.
Amid tight security, electors cast their votes in Phase-1 of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election 2024. A voter from J&K's Banihal in Ramban district explains how eagerly the masses had been waiting for 10 long years to choose their representatives. "We were waiting for this moment. For 10 years, the poor had been suffering without an assembly and chosen representatives," he said.
Special polling stations have been set up in Jammu for voters from the Kashmiri migrants' community.
A first-time voter from the Kashmiri migrant from Jammu shares what motivated her to cast her ballot. She said education, health, and employment would decide the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir voter turnout: While the voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir was 11.11%, the highest turnout was recorded in the Kishtwar district. The constituency that recorded the highest turnout was Inderwal with 16.01%. Although Anantnag saw voters queuing up even before the polling began, it recorded the lowest turnout at 6%.
| S No | District | District Wise Turnout | Constituency | Constituency Wise Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anantnag | 10.26% | Anantnag-44 | 6% |
| 2 | Anantnag | Anantnag West- 43 | 8.55% | |
| 3 | Anantnag | Dooru-41 | 10.42% | |
| 4 | Anantnag | Kokernag(st)-42 | 12% | |
| 5 | Anantnag | Pahalgam-47 | 12.56% | |
| 6 | Anantnag | Shangus- Anantnag East- 46 | 10.28% | |
| 7 | Anantnag | Srigufwara- Bijbehara- 45 | 11.6% | |
| 8 | Doda | 12.9% | Bhadarwah- 51 | 12.52% |
| 9 | Doda | Doda-52 | 12.8% | |
| 10 | Doda | Doda West -53 | 13.56% | |
| 11 | Kishtwar | 14.83% | Inderwal -48 | 16.01% |
| 12 | Kishtwar | Kishtwar- 49 | 15.02% | |
| 13 | Kishtwar | Padder- Nagseni- 50 | 12.62% | |
| 14 | Kulgam | 10.77% | D.H. Pora -38 | 11.1% |
| 15 | Kulgam | Devsar- 40 | 10.25% | |
| 16 | Kulgam | Kulgam -39 | 10.98% | |
| 17 | Pulwama | 9.18% | Pampore -32 | 8.81% |
| 18 | Pulwama | Pulwama- 34 | 10.5% | |
| 19 | Pulwama | Rajpora -35 | 9.97% | |
| 20 | Pulwama | Tral - 33 | 7.33% | |
| 21 | Ramban | 11.91% | Banihal -55 | 11% |
| 22 | Ramban | Ramban -54 | 13.08% | |
| 23 | Shopian | 11.44% | Shopian -37 | 13.% |
| 24 | Shopian | Zainapora -36 | 10% |
The first two hours of polling in Jammu and Kashmir remained rather damp in the 24 constituencies that are electing their representatives today. Till 9 PM, the voters' turnout was 11.11%.
Anantnag, another region hit by cross-border terrorism, is going to the polls today. A day before the polls, District Election Officer of Anantnag Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid visited polling stations for a final late-evening review and meeting with polling officials to ensure the smooth conduct of elections. Check out these visuals
Five years after the 2019 Pulwama attack, voters were seen queueing up in large numbers outside polling booths.
Check out these visuals.
Long queues were seen outside polling stations in Kulgam well before the voting started at 7 AM today. Kulgam is among the regions in Kashmir which has been most affected by terrorism. Three constituencies in Kulgam Kulgam, Devsar, and DH Pora are voting today. The visuals from the polling booths in each of these constituencies are being live-streamed for security purposes, District Magistrate & District Development Commissioner Kulgam Athar Aamir Khan said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called on electors to vote for a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that voters should elect a government that is focused on education, employment, women empowerment, and ending separatism.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called on electors to vote for a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that voters should elect a government that is focused on education, employment, women empowerment, and ending separatism.
Early women electors were honoured at 'pink polling stations' before casting there votes in J&K assembly polls. The 'pink polling stations' are exclusively managed by women polling officials.
Enthusiastic first-time voters among early birds queueing up to vote outside polling stations in Jammu & Kashmir.
Check out how polling teams braved rugged terrains and long hikes to reach remote areas in Paddar Nagaseni to facilitate voting after 10 years.
Take a quick look at the specifications of the Jammu and Kashmir elections Phase-1 as the Union Territory goes to polls after a decade.
Total Assembly Constituencies: 24
Candidates in Fray: 219 (209 men + 10 women)
Polling stations facilitating election: 3,276
Total eligible voters: 23.27 lakh
Women electors: 11.51 lakh
Voters aged 85 and above: 15,774
Voters with physical disabilities: 28,309
First-time voters: 1.23 lakh
Women elated to vote at 'pink polling stations' in Jammu & Kashmir's Gatha.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged people to cast vote as polling began for the first phase in Jammu and Kashmir.
"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 said in a post on X.
He added: "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."
Voting began in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday for the first phase and the people are casting vote in hopes that the issue of inflation and unemployment will be solved.
"Today, elections are being held after 10 years. We want unemployment and inflation to end, keeping this in mind, we have voted. We want people to vote in large numbers," a voter told ANI.
In the last assembly elections that were held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, People's Democratic Party led with 28 seats, followed closely by Bharatiya Janata Party on 25 seats. The National Conference, which had an incumbent government in the erstwhile state had secured 15 seats and Congress won 12.
As none of the parties steered clear of the halfway mark, an unexpected coalition between PDP and BJP was forged.
Voters have started to queue outside polling stations as voting began in 24 constituencies across 7 districts.
Voting has begun on all 24 constituencies across seven districts in Jammu and Kashmir.
The first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir will see an intense battle between VIP candidates like Iltija Mufti, Waheed Para, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Khalid Najib Suharwady, and Sanjay Saraf.
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, is contesting the polls on People's Democratic Party ticket from the Bijbehara-Srigufwara constituency. Against her is National Conference's Bashir Ahmad Veeri and BJP's Sofi Mohammad Yousuf.
Waheed Para, another PDP leader has been fielded from the Pulwama constituency against Mohammad Khalil Bandh from NC. Talat Majid, a former member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami will also stake claim to this seat.
Para was in jail under the UAPA in 2020 and is seeking to leverage the same for the polls with the slogan of ‘Jail Ka Badla Vote Say’ (Voting will avenge jail)
Tarigami is seeking his fifth consecutive term from the Kulgam segment and faces an Independent candidate affiliated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Sayar Ahmed Reshi. Mohammad Amin Dar from PDP Apni Party’s Engineer Mohammad Aqib is also in the fray.
NC candidate Suharwady will be in a friendly contest with Congress' Sheikh Riyaz from the Doda constituency.
Sanjay Saraf, contesting from the Anantnag seat on a Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP) ticket represents the Kashmiri Pandit community. He will face PDP's Abdul Rehman Veeri who has been a former minister for rural development.
The Wednesday voting will take place on 24 constituencies including eight in the Jammu division and 16 in the Kashmir division. These 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.
Ahead of the first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina extended his best wishes and urged everyone to step out and vote. "Best wishes from my side. Every youth and senior of J&K should go and vote for the (political) party they support," he said.
A total of 219 candidates are in the fray for the voting in the first phase of the election including 90 Independents. Over 23.37 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh young voters, are expected to cast their votes in Jammu and Kashmir, where elections are taking place after 10 years.
Polling for the first phase of elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is set to begin at 7 am today. Preparations are underway to conduct the voting in 24 constituencies across both Kashmir (16 constituencies) and Jammu (8 constituencies) divisions.
Background
Jammu Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 Highlights: Stay tuned with ABP Live for all the latest updates as we bring you comprehensive coverage of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024.
The first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be held today (Wednesday, September 18). In the first phase, voting will be held in 24 out of the 90 constituencies, across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Overall, it will cover eight assembly constituencies in the Jammu division and 16 in the Kashmir division.
The first phase ballots will determine the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents with more than 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh young voters, headed to exercise their franchise. The Wednesday elections in the Valley mark the beginning of the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The constituencies going to the polls on Wednesday 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.
Ahead of the first phase of voting, Jammu and Kashmir police made elaborate security arrangements so that maximum number of people can exercise their right to vote, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V K Birdi told PTI. "The security arrangements include multi-tier forces from the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and J-K Police," Birdi said.
Some of the prominent candidates contesting in Kashmir include AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, CPI (M)'s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, National Conference's Sakina Itoo, and PDP’s Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri.
PDP leader and daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija Mufti, is contesting from Bijbehara. She is in a triangular contest with BJP's Sofi Mohammad Yousuf and NC's Bashir Ahmad Veeri. Other candidates to watch out for are PDP's Sartaj Madni (Devsar) and Abdul Rehman Veeri (Shangus-Anantnag).
According to the Election Commission (EC), a total of 23,27,580 electors are eligible to vote in phase 1. These include 11,76,462 male, 11,51,058 female, and 60 third-gender electors.
Around 1.23 lakh youth between the age 18 to 19 years, 15,774 elderly voters above the age of 85, and 28,309 Person with Disabilities (PwDs) are also eligible to vote in phase one, an EC official said.
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