Voting began for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, first time since the abrogation of Article 370, as 24 constituencies spread over seven districts of the Union Territory went to polls in Phase 1 amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir recorded a voter turnout of 58.19 per cent in phase 1 of the assembly elections which are being conducted for the first time in 10 years.
The polling process was considerably smooth in the seven districts that went to poll on Wednesday. A minor scuffle broke out between BJP and PDP leaders in Kishwar, although the poll was mostly violence-free.
The district of Kishtwar logged the highest voter turnout at 77.23 per cent while Pulwama recorded the lowest at 46.03 per cent.
Prominent candidates in Kashmir whose fates were sealed on Wednesday include CPI (M)’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, National Conference’s Sakina Itoo, and PDP’s Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri.
PDP’s Iltija Mufti, running from Srigufwara-Bijbehara, and the party’s youth leader Waheed Para, from Pulwama, were also among the contenders.
The other two phases are being held on September 25 and October 1, while the counting of the votes will take place on October 8.
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Jammu & Kashmir Elections 2024 LIVE: 11.11% turnout recorded till 9 am in first phase of polls
