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Jammu and Kashmir sees 58.19% voter turnout till 5 p.m.

The voter turnout till 5 p.m. in the 24 assembly constituencies was around 58.19%, an official said. The first phase of the long-awaited Jammu and Kashmir elections is underway, with seven districts voting on September 18, 2024 -- the first Assembly polls since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

The polling has been peaceful and incident-free so far according to the Election Commission. “Polling is being conducted on a large scale. The way polling is progressing indicates a high turnout. We anticipate over 60% polling, said J&K Chief Electoral Officer P. K. Pole.

More than 23.27 lakh voters — 11.76 lakh men and 11.51 lakh women — are eligible to cast their votes in the first phase which will see 24 Assembly constituencies contested across the Chenab Valley districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, as well as the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people in Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. Similarly, Congress general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, J&K L-G Manoj Sinha, Union Home Minster Amit Shah and other leaders have called upon the youth, women and first-time voters to exercise their franchise responsibly.

Prominent candidates in Kashmir include CPI (M)‘s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is seeking a fifth consecutive term from Kulgam segment. AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir is hoping for a third term from Dooru, while National Conference’s Sakina Itoo is seeking another term from Damhal Hajipora. However, all eyes will be on Srigufwara-Bijbehara and Pulwama assembly segments where PDP’s Iltija Mufti and Waheed Para are contesting polls, respectively.