First Major Polls In J&K After Abrogation Of Article 370 As Srinagar Casts Ballots In Phase 4

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is casting ballots for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370, during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections today.

Voters seen lining up outside polling stations in J&K as polling begins in Srinagar during Lok Sabha elections phase 4.

Source : PTI

In the first-ever parliamentary polls since the abrogation of Article 370, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir went to polling on Monday during the fourth phase, beginning with Kashmir's Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Today's polling will decide the fate of 24 candidates who are comepeting against each other to stake their claim on the respective seats. 

After exercising his franchise, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said: "...It is sad that they say that there is no violence and everything is smooth but I want to say that the workers of our party have been locked up for 2 days. I want to ask Union HM and PM Modi why have our workers been locked? Are they scared that they will lose? They will definitely lose..."

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: After casting his vote, JKNC Chief Farooq Abdullah says "...It is sad that they say that there is no violence and everything is smooth but I want to say that the workers of our party have been locked up for 2 days. I want to ask Union HM and PM Modi why… pic.twitter.com/UlkXVkOIrP

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

After polling began at 7 AM, people were seen queued in large numbers outside various polling stations to exercise their franchise in some areas including Pulwama, Ganderbal, and Barnai.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Voters queue up outside a polling booth in Pulwama

National Conference (NC) has fielded Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, PDP fielded Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, and J&K Apni Party’s fielded Mohammad Ashraf Mir.… pic.twitter.com/VSgGZs9Vki

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

 Here's a look at the polling updates from Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar:

• The esrtwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was granted special status after the abrogation of Article 370, went to polling for the first time since the article was revoked in 2019.
• The voting in the UT kicked off at 7 AM for the Srinagar constituency and is scheduled to end at 6 PM.
• Voters were seen lining outside special polling booth for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu's Barnai, waiting for their turn to cast their ballots. Authortities have set up special polling stations for migrant voters of the Kashmir Division, including 21 in Jammu, one in Udhampur district, and four in Delhi.  

#WATCH | J&K: Voters queue up at a special polling booth for Kashmiri migrants, set up in Barnai, Jammu, as they await their turn to cast their vote.

Voting for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency underway today. National Conference has fielded Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from… pic.twitter.com/b70kITlBzo

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

• There are a total of 17.48 lakh voters in the constituency, comprising Srinagar, Ganderbal and Pulwama districts and some parts of Budgam and Shopian districts, who will decide the fate of candidates in Srinagar today.
• To ensure the polling is carried out in a fair and peaceful manner, authorites have set up 2,135 polling stations across the five districts.
• The National Conference, in association with the I.N.D.I.A bloc, has fielded former minister Aga Ruhullah Mehdi from the Srinagar seat, while People's Democratic Party fielded its youth president Waheed-ur-Rehman Para as its candidate.
• Among the two dozen candidates, the Apni Party has fielded Mohammad Ashraf Mir and the DPAP has fielded Amir Ahmad Bhat. Two women candidates are also in fray.
• BJP, has however, not fielded any candidate in any of the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir. But the saffron party has confidently claimed that elections in the valley will put an end to the domination of National Conference and PDP in the region, PTI reported.
• A total of 17,47,810 voters have been enrolled in phase four, including 8,75,938 men, 8,71,808 women and 64 third-gender voters.
• Out of the total voters, there are around 11,682 persons with disability and 705 voters are above 100 years old.