Jammu and Kashmir votes in historic post-Article 370 elections as first phase gets underway
Srinagar/IBNS: A historic three-phased election began on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir as the union territory began voting to elect a government in the first post-Article 370 polls under a heavy security blanket.
People queued up since morning to vote for the first time in 10 years across 3,276 polling stations in 24 constituencies in seven districts in this phase.
A total of 219 candidates are contesting the polls in which 23.27 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots.
Polling is being held in terrorism hit Doda and Kishtwar in the Chenab Valley region as well. Interestingly 42 per cent of the 219 candidates are Independents.
In the first phase 16 seats are in Kashmir region and eight seats in Jammu region. The Assembly constituencies are on both sides of the Pir Panjal mountain range.
Among the major contenders are the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party led by Mehbooba Mufti, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference of Omar Abdullah, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. There are several Independents. Abdul Ghani Lone's People's Conference, Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party, and Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party are also in the fray.
The banned Jamaat-e-Islami is also playing a role in the elections. It is supporting Awami Ittehad Party of Engineer Rashid, who stunned everyone by defeating from jail former chief minister Omar Abdullah in the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla.
In Aug 2019, Rashid was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on terror funding charges. On Sept 11 this year, he was granted interim bail until Oct 2, allowing him to campaign for the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election.
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti is contesting her first Assembly poll from the Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency in South Kashmir.
Everyone who turned up for the elections in J&K has demonstrated a strong belief in the democratic process and a commitment to the #development of our region.
— Sabreena Malik (@SabreenaMalik7) September 18, 2024
J&K National Conference candidate from #Bijbehara South Kashmir @DrVeeri Casts Vote in Elections#EmpoweringJammuKashmir pic.twitter.com/QJTPWIatmm
JK lieutenant governor Manoj posted on X handle: "J&K Assembly elections commence today. I call upon all the voters whose assembly constituencies are voting in the first phase today to turn out in record numbers & exercise their democratic rights. I especially urge youth, women and first-time voters to vote in large numbers."
This led to the conversion of the state to a Union Territory (UT) and its division, with Ladakh becoming a separate UT without a legislature.
Celebrating democracy as Kashmiri migrant voters cast their votes at special polling stations in Delhi! pic.twitter.com/Hs2hdMqauc
— BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) September 18, 2024
Celebrating democracy voters stand in long queues to cast their votes in Kulgam, Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/shkZprIAsZ
— BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) September 18, 2024
Today, I cast my vote for 'None of the Above' (NOTA). I refuse to endorse candidates tainted by corruption and external influences. I rejected plebiscite, referendum, autonomy, self-rule, achievable nationhood, and proxies. Our nation deserves leaders of integrity and true… pic.twitter.com/yBK5HIHlkH
— Mir Junaid (@MirJunaidJKWP) May 20, 2024
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