Jammu Kashmir Assembly Election 2024: Stay tuned with ABP Live for all the latest updates as we bring you comprehensive coverage of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024.
The first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be held today (Wednesday, September 18). In the first phase, voting will be held in 24 out of the 90 constituencies, across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Overall, it will cover eight assembly constituencies in the Jammu division and 16 in the Kashmir division.
The first phase ballots will determine the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents with more than 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh young voters, headed to exercise their franchise. The Wednesday elections in the Valley mark the beginning of the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The constituencies going to the polls on Wednesday include Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban and Banihal.
Ahead of the first phase of voting, Jammu and Kashmir police made elaborate security arrangements so that maximum number of people can exercise their right to vote, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V K Birdi told PTI. “The security arrangements include multi-tier forces from the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and J-K Police,” Birdi said.
Some of the prominent candidates contesting in Kashmir include AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, CPI (M)’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, National Conference’s Sakina Itoo, and PDP’s Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri.
PDP leader and daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija Mufti, is contesting from Bijbehara. She is in a triangular contest with BJP’s Sofi Mohammad Yousuf and NC’s Bashir Ahmad Veeri. Other candidates to watch out for are PDP’s Sartaj Madni (Devsar) and Abdul Rehman Veeri (Shangus-Anantnag).
According to the Election Commission (EC), a total of 23,27,580 electors are eligible to vote in phase 1. These include 11,76,462 male, 11,51,058 female, and 60 third-gender electors.
Around 1.23 lakh youth between the age 18 to 19 years, 15,774 elderly voters above the age of 85, and 28,309 Person with Disabilities (PwDs) are also eligible to vote in phase one, an EC official said.
