In the third phase of voting for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, a voter turnout of 11.60% was recorded by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
As per ECI data, Udhampur registred the highest turnout at 14.23%, followed by Samba at 13.31%. Other districts reported as follows: Bandipore 11.64%, Baramulla 8.89%, Jammu 11.46%, Kathua 13.09%, and Kupwara 11.27%.
Polling began at 7 a.m. across 40 constituencies in seven districts of the Union Territory. The voting, scheduled to conclude at 6 p.m., is taking place in 24 constituencies in Jammu division and 16 in Kashmir, with tight security to ensure peaceful elections.
As voting for the third phase of elections begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence in the participation of women voters in large numbers in the festival of democracy.
In a post on X, PM Modi also called upon first-time voters to exercise their franchise. “Today is the third and last round of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. I request all voters to come forward and cast their votes to make the festival of democracy a success. I am confident that apart from the young friends who are going to vote for the first time, women power will also participate in the voting in large numbers”.
At least 415 candidates, including former deputy Chief Ministers Tara Chand of Congress and Muzaffar Hussain Baig, are contesting in the third phase. Mock polling also took place at various polling booths before the start of the polls.
This election is notable as the first in a decade and the first since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The three-phase election involves a multi-party contest for the 90 seats across the former state. The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have formed an alliance for these elections, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are among the other major contenders.
The campaigning saw major political parties, especially the BJP, Congress, NC, and PDP, engaging in heated debates over key issues including Pakistan, Article 370, terrorism, and reservation. The counting of the votes will be done on October 8.
(ANI)