Jammu/Srinagar, Sep 18 (UNI) Giving a big thumbs up to the democratic exercise, around 59 percent voters pressed the EVM button till 7-30 p.m in the first phase of Assembly elections covering 24 constituencies in seven districts across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
Peaceful voting was recorded since the polling started at 7 a.m in three districts of Jammu region and four of Srinagar region, officials said.
Chief Electoral Officer, J&K UT, P K Pole said long queues of voters at the polling stations showcased the entire world, the deep trust and confidence of the people of J&K in the democratic exercise. "Polling in the first phase recorded an approximate voter turnout of 58.85 percent as of 7:30 pm," he told the media.
Sharing district-wise approximate voter turnout, Pole said Kishtwar registered the highest polling figure of 77.23 percent. Anantnag recorded 54.17 percent, Doda 69.33 percent, , Kulgam 61.57 percent, Pulwama 46.03 percent, Ramban 67.71 percent and Shopian 53.64 percent.
He stated that the voters from all sections of society responded to the ‘call of democracy’ wholeheartedly.
In each of the seven districts where voting was held, the voting participation exceeded the participation during the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, Pole said. During the LS polls, Jammu and Kashmir saw a voter turnout of 58.58 percent, highest in 35 years.
Around 23.27 lakh voters were eligible to elect their representatives from a pool of 219 candidates. nine of them women, in this phase.
Young and women voters turned out in large numbers,a testament to the deepeningof democracy in J&K.
The Commission led by CEC Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu kept a close watch on each and every aspect of the poll process from the very beginning while meticulous preparations, clear directions and strong security measures were in place creating a conducive environment for voters to cast their vote without fear or intimidation, said Pole.
Kashmiri Migrant voters were also empowered to exercise their franchise through 24 Special Polling Stations setup in Jammu (19), Udhampur(1) and Delhi (4), he said adding that earlier, the Commission had eased the process for Kashmiri migrant voters by abolishing the cumbersome Form-M and enabling self-certification.
Pole said that the home-voting facility, introduced for the first time in Assembly elections in J&K saw democracy being taken to the doorsteps of those who are bound by physical limitations. Many voters aged above 85 years and PwDs with 40 percent benchmark disability opted to vote from the comfort of their homes, while those who visited polling stations were greeted with warmth and all assured minimum facilities.
Since the start of the elections, Pole stated that 355 complaints against electoral malpractices were disposed of with a disposal rate of 98.3 percent, which reduced campaign clutter and noise.
In the first Assembly polls in a decade, people of South Kashmir embraced democracy in an effort to make their voices heard.
From early morning, voters queued up outside the booths across all 16 assembly constituencies.
Wednesday's elections are the first major democratic exercise to elect an Assembly since the revocation of Article 370 and conversion of the state into a Union Territory in August 2019. The last Assembly election in the erstwhile J&K state was held in 2014.
In the morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon voters, especially "young and first-time voters," to exercise their franchise as the first phase of assembly elections has begun in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the voters for the record turnout. In a social media post, the Lieutenant Governor said, their enthusiastic participation is a testament to the strength of Indian democracy and people's faith in democratic values.
“Congratulations J&K for a historic voter turnout! I would like to thank all voters, who exercised their franchise in 1st Phase. Record polling in the peaceful, free & fair election attests to the strength of Indian democracy & people's faith in democratic values." Sinha posted on X.
National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said that people were waiting for the past 10 years to exercise their democratic voting rights. “It is a good thing that people have come out to vote very early,” Omar told the media in Srinagar.
Congress General Secretary and candidate from Dooru Assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that people are overwhelmingly voting on issues like statehood, land rights and jobs. “I have voted today with the intention to change the 10-year-old poor rule of Delhi in the Jammu and Kashmir,” Mir told media persons.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also appealed to voters in Jammu and Kashmir to come out and vote in large numbers to bring peace, stability, justice and progress in the Union Territory.
The other two phases of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on September 25 and on October 1. The counting will take place on October 8. UNI VBH MJ QAB GNK SSP