After a Decade-Long Wait, Jammu and Kashmir Votes in Phase 1 Today | Top Points

Jammu: As Jammu and Kashmir goes to polls on Wednesday, September 18, 219 candidates are in fray across 24 assembly constituencies in the first phase of legislative assembly elections 2024. Notably, this marks the maiden assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir in a Union Territory setup since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019. 

The fate of the candidates will be determined by over 23.27 lakh electorates.

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This election holds great significance as it is the first assembly election in a decade. The Centre abrogated Article 370, that gave special status to J-K, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two UTs – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The polling began at 7am and will conclude at 6pm on Wednesday. Heavy security has been deployed across the region for smooth conduct of elections. Vehicles checking were also underway in Akhnoor in view of the high-stakes assembly polls. 

Polling in Phase 1 Today

The first phase of the elections will cover 24 assembly segments across seven districts of the UT, including Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam in the Kashmir Division and Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar in the Jammu Division.

In the Kashmir Division, 16 seats are up for contest which include Anantnag, Shopian, Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Dooru, Zainapora, , DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, , Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, and Pahalgam.

In the Jammu Division, eight constituencies that are voting today include Doda, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Ramban, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda West, and Banihal. 

As per the latest electoral rolls, 23,27,580 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase, comprising 11,76,462 lakh male voters, 11,51,058 lakh female voters, and 60 third-gender voters.

Today's polling will also witness participation of 28,309 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 15,774 voters above the age of 85. 

Candidates in Fray

With this, 64 candidates are contesting in Anantnag district, while 45 are in fray in Pulwama district, 27 in Doda district, 25 in Kulgam district, 22 in Kishtwar district, 21 in Shopian district, while 15 are contesting in Ramban district.

Key Candidates and Constituencies

Among the prominent candidates in the first phase of polling are Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami from CPI (M), AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Sakina Itoo from the National Conference, and PDP’s Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, is also in race in Srigufwara-Bijbehara against NC’s Bashir Ahmad Veeri and BJP ’s Sofi Mohammad Yousuf. This constituency is part of the Rajouri-Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.

Tarigami is vying for his fifth consecutive term from the Kulgam assembly segment. Ghulam Ahmad Mir, AICC general secretary, is seeking his third term from Dooru. Sakina Itoo from NC aims for another term from Damhal Hajipora. PDP’s Sartaj Madni is contesting from Devsar, while Abdul Rehman Veeri is running from Shangus-Anantnag.

PDP’s youth wing leader Waheed Para is contesting in the Pulwama assembly segment. Para, who is accused in a terror case, faces a tough challenge from his former party colleague Mohammad Khalil Bandh, now representing NC. The contest is further complicated by the entry of Talat Majid Alie, a former member of Jamaat-e-Islami. Tarigami also faces competition from Sayar Ahmad Reshi.

In Jammu, where BJP and Congress are the dominant parties, key candidates include former ministers Sajjad Kitchloo (NC) and Khalid Najid Suharwardy (NC), Vikar Rasool Wani ( Congress ), Abdul Majid Wani (DPAP), Sunil Sharma ( BJP ), Shakti Raj Parihar (Doda West), and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, a three-time MLA running as an independent after being denied a DPAP ticket.

PM Modi's Message For Voters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called on voters to celebrate the festival of democracy by exercising their franchise. He urged electorates to vote in large numbers.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise(sic)."