Jammu and Kashmir Election LIVE: 58.85% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 7 PM for First Phase Polling

About 59 per cent of the electorate in Jammu and Kashmir turned out to vote on Wednesday, giving a thumbs up to the union territory's first assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 with round one going off without incident.

Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said this is the highest voter turnout in the past seven Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The figures might go up after the final reports are received from the remote pockets and postal ballots, he said.

Voting began at 7 am and proceeded steadily through the day. Men and women, the young and old, some too frail to walk and others patiently waiting their turn, queued up outside polling booths across Kashmir Valley and Jammu.

Of the 90 seats, 24 voted in the first phase -- 16 in the Kashmir Valley and eight in the Jammu region. Over 2.3 million voters were eligible to cast the ballot to determine the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 Independents.

At 9 am, two hours after polling began, the turnout was 11.11 per cent. At 1 pm, it was 26.72 per cent. At 3 pm, 50.65 per cent of the voters had turned up. And by 5 pm, the number had inched up to 58.19 per cent.

After the polling ended at 6 pm, Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said that tentatively the overall voter turnout was about 59 percent -- the highest in the past seven Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

The elections to the 90-member assembly are the first since Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated in August 2019 and the state was downgraded into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Security forces fanned out to ensure that there was no trouble. The day was largely without incident except for reports of clashes between political workers in some areas of Bijbehara and D H Pora.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the several leaders encouraging voters to come out in large numbers and take part in the "festival of democracy".

In a post on X, he particularly targeted young and first-time voters in his appeal.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also appealed for a strong voter turnout to elect a government focused on youth education, employment, and women's empowerment while combating separatism.

"Pehle matdan phir jalpan", he said in a post on X, asking people to vote before breakfast.

He encouraged voters to prioritise casting their votes before meals.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also asked people, particularly youth and women, to exercise their democratic rights.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed voters, reminding them of the implications of the state's status change and urging them to safeguard their rights.

He stressed on the importance of participation for a future characterised by peace, stability, and development.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sought support for the INDIA bloc, calling the election a chance for the voters to reclaim their rights and foster employment opportunities in the region.

He termed the downgrading of the state's status a "violation of constitutional rights," urging citizens to vote for a prosperous future.

National Conference's Omar Abdullah said, "The more we talk about the importance of these polls, the less it will be. They are happening after 10 years and a lot has changed in these 10 years. Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two, Ladakh was separated from us, we were granted a UT status even as we fail to understand how it benefitted us.

"We have not forgotten what happened with Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, so it is a very important election in all respects." The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said he hoped the votes would go in favour of the NC-Congress alliance in which a CPI(M) member is also a part of.

"But it is the voters who will decide. We have tried to take our agenda for J-K for the next five years to the voters, let us see what happens," he said.

The next phases are on September 25 and October 1. The votes will be counted on October 8.

About 59 per cent voting recorded in first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir:  Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole
 

As of 7:30 PM, in phase-I elections, the voter turnout stands at 58.85% with Kishtwar witnessing the highest voting percentage - 77.23% and Pulwama the lowest - 46.03%

More than 58 per cent of the electorate in Jammu and Kashmir turned out to vote till 5 pm on Tuesday, giving a thumbs up to the union territory’s first assembly election since 2019 with round one going off without incident. Voting began at 7 am and proceeded steadily through the day. Men and women, the young and old, some too frail to walk and others patiently waiting their turn, queued up outside polling booths across Kashmir Valley and Jammu.

The total voter turnout Till 7 PM for the FIrst Phase Polling in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls stands at 58.85%

"Polling is going on peacefully in all the places. Voters have turned out in large numbers. Adequate security has been deployed in vulnerable and sensitive areas. In addition to state police, we have adequate deployment of CAPF as well. Outer areas have been dominated by the Army. All security forces are working in synergy. People have given a response to terrorists and all acts of terror that have occurred in the recent past by casting their vote," DIG Shridhar Patil said. 

58.19% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 5 PM for First Phase Polling in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. 

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir said, "People have decided to peacefully cast their votes as there was no democracy here. It is important that people choose their representatives. Even though it will be a toothless government in UT."

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "People have voted in large numbers and excitement among people is palpable. This is a festival of democracy in its true sense and people of J&K are able to experience it for the first time."

NC vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked people to vote wisely after MP Engineer Rashid said he has not closed his doors on any party including the BJP in case the saffron party might need his support for government formation. In an interview to a private TV channel, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, was asked if there was any scope for his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) to ally with the BJP.

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections: 50.65% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India

Anantnag-46.67%  
Doda- 61.90% 
Kishtwar-70.03%  
Kulgam-50.57%  
Pulwama-36.90%  
Ramban-60.04%  
Shopian-46.84%

" PDP will emerge as the number one party in South Kashmir," said PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. 

"This is a border area and the Congress party has always been strong here, we have alliance candidates... I think the INDIA alliance government will be formed here, BJP itself is contesting the elections and has fielded many proxy candidates so that the votes can be divided but the voters here understand this politics. Elections have not been held here for 10 years, people are participating in the voting in large numbers... No matter how much effort they make in Jammu and Kashmir, people are not liking them here," Congress leader Sachin Pilot said. 

"People here were hopeless because elections were not been held in the last 10 years, and corruption and red tapism have also increased. However, issues of people will soon be raised in the Assembly and they will be resolved," says PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti party candidate from Bijbehara Assembly constituency.

In the first assembly polls in J-K since the abrogation of Article 370, enthusiastic voters queued up at polling stations to exercise their franchise in the Doda district of Jammu region, which has seen an increase in terror-related activities over the past few months.

Expressing happiness about taking part in the assembly elections to elect their government, the voters also said they hoped that the democratic exercise would be followed by the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

Polling was underway on Wednesday in the Chenab valley districts, having over 7.14 lakh eligible voters, to decide the fate of 64 candidates in the first phase of the assembly elections. Voting was also going on in the four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian.

After casting his vote, BJP candidate from Ramban assembly constituency, Rakesh Thakur says, "...After the abrogation of Article 370, a lot of development has taken place in Jammu and Kashmir and we went among the people with those development works in the elections... BJP government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir ..."
 

BJP incharge of J&K and Party National General Secretary Tarun Chugh says, "Whenever he (PM Modi) has visited Jammu and Kashmir, people have come out in large numbers to listen to him and there is a lot of enthusiasm among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, preparations for the programme are going on at war level...In tomorrow's programme, people are coming in large numbers to listen to the Prime Minister. The way the people have decorated the roads and the markets of Srinagar, it shows that Prime Minister Modi has made immense efforts and worked hard for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, to win the trust of the people..."

On 1st phase elections of J&K, he says, "This is the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of development and trust. This is the same land where elections used to be boycotted... Now people are voting in large numbers, long queues show that today people are trusting the Constitution of India, the democracy of India..."

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections: 41.17% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India  

Anantnag-37.90% 
Doda- 50.81%
Kishtwar-56.86% 
Kulgam-39.91% 
Pulwama-29.84% 
Ramban-49.68% 
Shopian-38.72%

Jammu and Kashmir: BJP candidate from Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar says, "The (PDP) candidate came here and said this girl is playing the victim card and trying to get sympathy. I felt bad. I said why would I play the victim card and said you have made me a victim. They tried to push me. PDP and National Conference workers entered the place where voting was taking place..."
 

Voting was briefly halted at a polling station in Bagwan Mohalla, Kishtwar, after a protest erupted over voter identification. Kishtwar District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Shavan stated, "There was some confusion among the people, and a crowd gathered, but the issue has been resolved. One individual did not have an identity card, which caused the disruption. The situation is now normal, and voting has resumed."

The Congress in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday expelled a district unit president and some other leaders from the basic membership of the party for going against the spirit of its alliance with the National Conference (NC) and contesting as Independents in the assembly polls. "Breach of alliance unity shall not be tolerated," a spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said.

He said the party has expelled Srinagar district president Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan and two others from the basic membership of the party.

During the first phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP candidate from Kishtwar constituency Shagun Parihar was heckled at a polling station, with BJP alleging that PDP workers were responsible, prompting heavy deployment of security forces to the area.

BJP General Secretary and Padder Nagseni candidate Sunil Sharma hailed the high voter turnout in South Kashmir as a victory for India and democracy, crediting Prime Minister Modi and stating that the people have embraced the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which he referred to as shields for terrorists and stone pelters. He expressed confidence in BJP's success in the elections.

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections LIVE: 26.72% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India. Here is the district-wise list

Anantnag-25.55%
Doda- 32.30%
Kishtwar-32.69%
Kulgam-25.95%
Pulwama-20.37%
Ramban-31.25%
Shopian-25.96%

On J&K Assembly elections, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot says, "The mood is in favour of Congress party...PM Modi visited J&K and levelled allegations against the three families...It looks like he has already accepted his defeat...BJP will be defeated in J&K..."

On Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to the PM, he says, "Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and he is being called a terrorist. This is very unfortunate. PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda are silent on this ..."

Based on the recommendations made by the Disciplinary Committee J&K BJP Working President Sh. Sat Sharma has suspended Vice President Pawan Khajuria, Balwan Singh and  Narinder Singh Bhau from the party with immediate effect.

"I told you that this election will break records. Today's election is against dynasty politics in Jammu and Kashmir...I am confident that this election will break records and the voter turnout will be the highest in the country. People were very upset and people were waiting for the election. This election is for the government, for a good government," Shaheen said.
 

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Athar Aamir said there were long queues of people at several polling stations. "Elections are happening very smoothly everywhere, voting is happening at our 372, 372 polling stations. Mock poll was completed at 7 AM at 100% polling stations. There are long queues at several polling stations. We have kept web casting camera stations as well and we monitor them from the district level control room. We also monitor every polling station from here. We are expecting a very good voter turnout. All arrangements are in place...Over 1300 polling agents are present at different polling stations across J&K," the DC Kulgam said.
 

District Election Officer, Doda Harvinder Singh said, "Voting has started in polling stations. We are getting to see a lot of enthusiasm from the people. I hope that this time we will be able to record the voter turnout well. A very good polling exercise is going on in a free and fair manner...Those who are sitting at home, they should come out of their houses and exercise their voting rights..."

“People are coming to cast their vote. I also have cast my vote. It’s a victory of democracy,” says Independent candidate from Kulgam Assembly constituency Sayar Ahmad Reshi after casting his vote.

“A million thanks to Allah that elections are taking place. I am thankful that people are coming out to vote,” says BJP candidate from Shopian Assembly constituency, Javaid Ahmad Qadri.
 

"We are hoping that people will vote for candidates of our alliance between National Conference and Congress and the one candidate of CPM. Voters will decide. We took our agenda of next five years for Jammu and Kashmir to the people. Let's see what happens. These elections are very important as they are being held after 10 years. Several things changed in these 10 years. Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two. Ladakh was separated from us. We were given status of UT (Union Territory) though we don't know how it benefitted us. We have not forgot what happened with Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019," said JKNC leader Omar Abdullah.

Jammu and Kashmir 1st phase Assembly elections: 11.11% voter turnout recorded in Jammu and Kashmir till 9 am, as per the Election Commission of India. According to the latest data issued by ECI, Kishtwar recorded a voter turnout of 14.83 per cent as of 9 am taking the lead while Pulwama recorded 9.18 per cent voter turnout. Anantnag recorded 10.26 per cent, Doda 12.90 per cent, Kulgam 10.77 per cent, Ramban 11.91 per cent and Shopian 11.44 per cent voter turnout as of 9 am, as per the ECI.

The district Administration Kulgam has set up an election control room to monitor the election process in the district.

PDP candidate from Pulwama, Waheed Para said, "Pulwama has been stigmatized...This is an election for us to reclaim the image of Pulwama, the youth of Pulwama, and the people of Pulwama and we are optimistic. We want people to come out in this election and vote for peace, progress, development and dignity of J&K...Voting is an act of self-preservance for all of us. People have lost so much in the last 6-7 years. So people want to change and this voting is to reclaim whatever we have lost..."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday urged voters in Jammu and Kashmir to remember who is responsible for the "travesty" of downgrading a state to a Union Territory when they cast their vote. Kharge asserted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eager to safeguard their rights and embark on a new era of true development and full statehood.

In a post on X, Kharge said, "As the first phase of voting in 24 Assembly constituencies commences, we urge everyone to exercise their democratic right and vote in large numbers."

Every single vote holds the power to shape the future and bring about an era of peace, stability, justice, progress, and economic empowerment, the Congress president said.

"We appeal to all, especially first-time voters, to participate in this crucial election and be the catalysts for change," he said.

"For the first time ever, a state was downgraded to a Union Territory, when you cast your vote, do remember who is responsible for this travesty," Kharge said.

"Let us unite and shape a brighter future for Jammu and Kashmir, where the voices of all citizens are heard," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers to form a government which is committed to education of the youth, employment, empowerment of women and ending separatism. "Today, my appeal to the voters going to exercise their franchise in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections is to vote in large numbers to form a government which is committed to education of the youth, employment, empowerment of women and ending separatism and nepotism in the region," the BJP leader wrote on X in Hindi.

The home minister also asked people to go for vote before having the breakfast by saying 'Pehle matdan phir jalpan'.

JKNC candidate from Kishtwar, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo says, "After 10 years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir got the chance to choose their representative. The people are happy... The lines of people that we are seeing, it is the agitation against inflation and unemployment."
 

After casting his vote, BJP's candidate from Banihal Assembly seat, Mohd Saleem Bhat says, "I am happy. I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission for conducting the elections here. People here want change and want to vote for development, good health facilities, schools. I appeal to people to come out in large numbers so that development can take place here."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “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.”
 

Voting begins in first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the first assembly election since August 2019.

Ahead of the first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, officials carried out mock polls at multiple polling booths across the Union Territory. Preparations, including mock drills, took place in various constituencies such as Banihal, Kishtwar, and Jagti.

The constituencies going to the polls on September 18 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.

"As the first phase of voting will take place on September 18, Jammu and Kashmir police have made elaborate security arrangements for the assembly polls so that maximum number of people can exercise their right to vote," said Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V K Birdi. The security arrangements include multi-tier forces from the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and J-K Police, Birdi added. 

Over 23 lakh voters will determine the outcome for 219 candidates, including 90 independents, contesting 24 assembly seats—eight across three districts in Jammu region and 16 in four districts of Kashmir valley.

This will be the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.