The first phase of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir began on Wednesday, with 24 out of the 90 seats in the Union territory going to the polls. These are the first Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Polling is underway in seven districts: Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. A turnout of 58.19% was recorded till 1 pm, with the Kishtwar district registering the highest figure of 77.23% and Pulwama with the lowest figure of 43.87%.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urged people in Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also urged voters to exercise their “democratic right”. In a post on X, the Congress leader said: “For the first time in the history of the country, the statehood of a state has been taken away and it has been made a Union territory.”
He added that this was an insult to Jammu and Kashmir, and a violation of the constitutional rights of its people.
“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,’” he said.
Among the prominent candidates in the fray are the Peoples Democratic...
