Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls highlights: 59% turnout in first phase, voting peaceful, says CEO

Jammu and Kashmir Phase 1 election updates: Catch all the latest LIVE Assembly election updates here

10:07 PM

J&K Assembly polls: 59% turnout in first phase, voting peaceful, says CEO

A turnout of about 59 per cent -- the highest in the past seven elections -- was recorded in the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said, adding polling passed off peacefully. However, he said the figures are tentative and there might be a fractional increase after the final reports are received from the remote pockets and postal ballots. The first phase of polls covered 24 seats across seven districts. Briefing mediapersons here after polling ended at 6 pm, Pole said the elections ended peacefully without any untoward incident. There are reports of some minor incidents of scuffle or argument from a few polling stations but "no serious incident" occurred that could have forced a repoll, he said. "The polling per centage of 59 per cent is highest in the past seven elections -- four Lok Sabha polls and three assembly elections," he said, attributing the increase in the voter turnout to various factors including improved security situation, active participation of political parties and candidates and a campaign by the department. He said Kishtwar district recorder the highest 77 per cent turnout, while Pulwama district witnessed the lowest 46 per cent. Pole expressed hope that the remaining two phases on September 25 and October 1 will also see high polling per centage.

6:51 PM

Polling saw 58.19 per cent voter turnout by 5 PM in first phase

4:51 PM

Jammu and Kashmir polls LIVE update: Phase 1 of J-K polls proceed steadily

Voting began at 7 am. By 3 pm, voter turnout was recorded at 50.65 per cent. Encouraged by the sight of long lines of people waiting to exercise their franchise, officials hoped the turnout would be significantly higher by 6 pm when voting closes.

4:47 PM

J-K polls update: Inderwal seat in Jammu records over 60% voter turnout

The Inderwal seat in the Jammu region registered the highest poll percentage of 60.01% today.

4:12 PM

"We will form govt in Jammu and Kashmir," says BJP's Ramban candidate Thakur

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Ramban assembly constituency, Rakesh Thakur, cast his vote on Monday and exuded confidence that the BJP government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the union territory has witnessed a lot of developmental work after the abrogation of Article 370 and that the BJP reached out to voters of J & K with those developments in the assembly elections.

4:10 PM

Polling peaceful, incident-free so far: Jammu and Kashmir CEO PK Pole

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole on Wednesday said polling is proceeding peacefully in the first phase of the assembly elections and is incident-free. He also expressed confidence that turnout will exceed 60 per cent. "Polling is being conducted on a large scale. The way polling is progressing indicates a high turnout. We anticipate over 60 per cent polling. So far, the polling has been peaceful and incident-free," Pole stated.

4:02 PM

J-K Assembly polls update: 50.65% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, says EC

A voter turnout of over 50.65% was registered till 3 pm in all polling stations of 24 Assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir.

3:54 PM

Haryana Assembly elections: Congress vows women welfare, free electricity in manifesto

The Congress party today released its manifesto, guaranteeing seven promises for the state. The manifesto promises Rs 2,000 per month to every woman above 18 years as well as LPG gas cylinders in Rs 500. Read here for more details.

3:26 PM

Actual investment which materialised only around 2.97% of promised amount: Congress

"Recently, the government said that in the last 5 years, Rs 85 crore worth investment was signed for J&K. But actual investment which came in was only around 2.97% of this amount," Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal stated today.

2:49 PM

Voting underway in Anantnag for phase 1 amid tight security

2:46 PM

J-K news update: Mother of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Gulshan Ara, casts vote in Anantnag

2:23 PM

PM Modi's policies have proven to be a disaster for J&K: CPI leader D Raja

"Jammu and Kashmir have gone for polls after a decade and the first phase of polling is underway. There is a strong resentment against the policies pursued by the Union Government. PM Modi and his government's policies have proven to be a disaster for J&K and people are angry about how the statehood was snatched away and split into Union Territories," CPI leader D Raja said.

1:50 PM

Jammu and Kashmir polls: 41.17% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in J-K

The voter turnout as of 1 pm was registered ata 41.17 per cent during polling for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in 24 Assembly constituencies.

1:19 PM

J-K Cong expels Srinagar district unit president for entering poll fray as Independent

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

1:14 PM

Kashmiri migrant voters cast their votes under tight security

Kashmiri migrants voters cast their voting during the initial stage of Assembly elections, with stringent security measures in place, according to a report by news agency ANI.

1:07 PM

Your vote for INDIA bloc will ensure return of your rights: Rahul to people of J-K

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged people in Jammu and Kashmir to vote for the INDIA bloc, saying every such vote will ensure the return of their rights and bring employment. "My brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir, today the first phase of voting is being held. For the first time in the history of the country, a state's statehood has been taken away and it has been made a union territory - this is a violation of all your constitutional rights, an insult to Jammu and Kashmir," Gandhi said in a post in X.

12:34 PM

J-K elections: 27% poll turnout; Kashmiri pandits vote from migrant camps

Data from the Election Commission showed that of the seven districts voting in the first phase, the highest voter turnout was recorded in Kishtwar at 32.69 per cent. Doda followed next at 32.20 per cent and Ramban recorded 31.25 per cent voter turnout till 11 am. Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag logged around 25 per cent polling outcomes while Pulwama saw the lowest turnout at 20.37 per cent. Read here for more details.

12:31 PM

BJP candidate Shagun Parihar casts vote, says party will achieve resounding victory

BJP candidate from Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar, on Wednesday cast her vote here as she expressed confidence in securing the seat in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections which are being held after a gap of a decade. Shagun (29), whose father Ajit Parihar and uncle Anil Parihar were shot dead by terrorists in November 2018, said she is confident that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will "achieve a resounding victory in these elections and form a government in Jammu and Kashmir". "Terrorism remains one of the biggest issues in this election, as it has been in Jammu and Kashmir for years. The Narendra Modi-led government has made significant strides in countering terrorism, which is a personal concern for me as a victim," she said.

12:00 PM

26.72% voter turnout till 11:00 am in phase 1 of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls

The first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir saw a cumulative voter turnout of 26.72 per cent as of 11:00 am on Wednesday, as per the Election Commission of India.

 

11:49 AM

MP Rashid hits out at J-K LG for suggesting stricter laws to prevent Jamaat-e-Islami from fighting polls

Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Wednesday hit out at Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's call for stricter laws to prevent organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami from participating in elections. Rashid said unlike the BJP which has "spilt Muslim blood" and divided India along communal lines to further its agenda, the Jamaat-e-Islami was just seeking a resolution of political issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

"If the (Lieutenant) Governor had his way, he would throw all of Kashmir into the Jhelum River. What kind of democracy is this? What has Jamaat-e-Islami done? What is their fault? This is an organisation that has done a lot of work in the social, moral, and educational sectors in Kashmir," Rashid said.

11:32 AM

Pulwama stigmatized, this is an election to reclaim its image: PDP's Waheem Para

People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from Pulwama Assembly constituency Waheed Para said that people want to change and this election process is to "reclaim whatever we have lost." "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," Waheed Para said.

11:05 AM

J-K Assembly elections: Omar urges voters to avoid splitting ballot, hopes for NC-Congress alliance victory

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed hope that voters in Jammu and Kashmir would avoid "fragmentation of their votes", warning that many independent candidates in the Valley were contesting with the aim to divide the ballot. "People will have to keep it (a huge number of independent candidates contesting) in mind, because most of these candidates are in Kashmir. It seems it is an attempt to fragment votes and divide people. I hope the voters will remain cautious of these and avoid fragmentation of their votes in this election," Abdullah said.

10:44 AM

Jammu and Kashmir elections LIVE update: Over 11% voting in first 2 hours

A voter turnout of 11.11 per cent was registered in the first two hours of voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, an official said on Wednesday. The maximum voting percentage among the 16 assembly segments in the Kashmir valley was recorded in Shopian at 13 per cent. It was followed by Pahalgam at 12.56 per cent, Kokernag (ST) at 12 per cent and Srigufwara-Bijbehara at 11.60 per cent.

The lowest -- 6 per cent -- was recorded in Anantnag, they said.

10:42 AM

J-K Assembly polls: L-G Sinha urges people of J-K to vote in record numbers

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in record numbers. "J&K Assembly elections commence today. I call upon all the voters whose assembly constituencies are voting in the first phase today to turn out in record numbers & exercise their democratic rights. I especially urge youth, women and first-time voters to vote in large numbers," Sinha said in a post on X.

10:17 AM

J-K Assembly elections update: First since Article 370 revoked; voting in Pulwama, Doda

Voting started at 7 am across the 24 constituencies under a multi-layer security provided by Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, and J-K Police. The process will conclude at 6 pm, officials said. Read here for more details.

10:10 AM

Congress leader Vikar Rasool Wani joins early voters in J-K, says confident of hat-trick victory in Banihal

Former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani was among the early voters to cast their ballot at a polling station here in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district on Wednesday. Wani, a former minister who won the Banihal constituency seat in the 2008 and 2014 elections, expressed confidence in securing the seat for a third consecutive term. He faces competition from six other candidates, including National Conference's Sajjad Shaheen, PDP's Imtiyaz Shan, and BJP's Mohd Saleem Bhat.

 

9:53 AM

Polling begins in Chenab valley for phase 1 of assembly elections in J-K

Voting began today in Jammu and Kashmir's Chenab valley, having over 714,000 eligible voters, to decide the fate of 64 candidates in the first phase of the assembly elections being held after a decade. Polling started at 7 am at all 1,328 polling stations set up across eight assembly seats of Chenab valley districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban amid heavy security, as the region has witnessed a spurt in terror activities over the past three months, leaving six army personnel and four terrorists dead. Besides Chenab valley, the first phase of assembly elections also covered four districts of south Kashmir's Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian, which have 16 assembly constituencies.

9:32 AM

Participate in 'crucial election,' become 'catalysts for change', says Congress chief Kharge

In a post on X, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to people in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in "crucial election and be the catalysts for change" as the first phase of polling began in the region. "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. We appeal to all, especially first-time voters, to participate in this crucial election and be the catalysts for change," Kharge said in the post.

9:19 AM

Vote against separatism, joblessness: Home Minister Amit Shah to people of J-K

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.

 

9:02 AM

J-K Assembly polls update: Voters wait in queues to cast votes in Pulwama

As the first phase of polling starts in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, a large queue of voters waited outside a polling booth in Pulwama to cast their vote. Ban stated, "The queues formed during the polls are the testimony of the decisions that Delhi took on August 5, 2019, and the way they were inhumane to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Once these queues end and the results are out on October 8, you will see the verdict of the people is against the decision of 5th August 2019."