Update J&K polls: Second phase of Assembly polls records turnout of 56.05%, says polling official

J&K Phase-2 elections live updates: Catch all the latest J&K election updates here

10:29 PM

People don't trust BJP's gimmicks anymore, seek change: Cong leader Supriya Shrinate on J&K poll

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate expressed confidence in the party's ability to win the Jammu and Kashmir election, saying that the strong voter turnout indicates a lack of trust in the "BJP's gimmicks" and a desire for change. Shrinate also criticised previous government of the Union Territory and highlighted problem of mismanagement and unemployment in the region in last decade.

 

6:50 PM

J&K polls: 54% voter turn out till 5 pm in second phase of polling

The second phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a voter turnout of 54 percent till 5 pm, as per the Election Commission of India. Voting for the second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir began at 7 am today. Over 2.5 mn eligible voters will seal the fate of 239 candidates across 26 constituencies in six districts of the Union Territory.

6:32 PM

Sopore apple will reach foreign shores: Rahul promise J&K town residents

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has said if the NC-Congress alliance comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, it will promote the famous Sopore apple in international markets. The Congress leader lamented that while walnuts, cashews and resins were put on his table, the famous Sopore apple, the main horticulture produce of the area, was missing.

6:21 PM

J&K polls: Enthusiastic first-timers in Pir Panjal vote for better education, jobs

Jammu and Kashmir's Pir Panjal region witnessed an overwhelming response from first-time voters who enthusiastically participated in the second phase of assembly elections, aspiring for better job opportunities, skill education, development and good governance in the Union territory.

6:08 PM

Omar Abdullah advices ally Congress to focus on campaigning in Jammu

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that alliance partner Congress should focus more on campaigning in the Jammu region where it has got the lion's share in the seat-sharing agreement with his party. "It is a good thing. I hope after Rahul (Gandhi) is done campaigning in one or two seats of Kashmir, he focuses on Jammu. Ultimately, what the Congress does in Kashmir is not that important, but what the Congress does in Jammu is important," Abdullah said.

5:50 PM

Haryana will have Dalit deputy CM if INLD wins,' says BSP chief Mayawati

Haryana will have a Dalit deputy chief minister if the BSP-INLD alliance comes to power after the October 5 polls, BSP supremo Mayawati said. The Bahujan Samaj Party president said that if the alliance wins, Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala will be the chief minister and he will have two deputies. Mayawati made the remarks while addressing a public gathering in Uchana in Jind on the occasion of 111th birth anniversary of former deputy prime minister late Devi Lal.

5:12 PM

INDIA bloc will hit road if J&K statehood not restored after polls: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said restoration of statehood was the "right" of people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the INDIA bloc will hit the road and use "full force" in Parliament and outside if the Centre fails to restore it after assembly polls.

 

5:02 PM

J-K Assembly polls: Regional parties focus on region-specific politics, says BJP candidate Zulfkar Ali

Amid the polling for the second phase in Jammu and Kashmir, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, the BJP candidate from the Budhal assembly seat, stated that the development of the region and unemployment are important issues. He claimed that there has been little development in the last 70-72 years as regional political parties focused on region-specific politics.

4:59 PM

J-K Assembly polls: Norwegian diplomat Beate Gabrielsen visits polling booth in Srinagar

 Norwegian diplomat Beate Gabrielsen stated , “It's good and I've never been here before. It's good to come to Srinagar,” after visiting a polling booth during the second phase of polling for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.

4:56 PM

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls: 83-year old man plants sapling near Mendhar polling booth ahead of voting

An octogenarian Kashmiri here on Wednesday did not just cast his ballot but made a strong case for democracy in the strife-torn region when he planted a sapling near the booth before he voted. Akbar Khan, 83, who was accompanied by his family, cast his vote in the border constituency of Mendhar in Poonch district. But before that, he urged the youth to exercise their right with his humble gesture.

4:39 PM

Jammu and Kashmir polls LIVE: Over 46% voter turnout recorded till 3pm in phase 2 elections

Officials stated that a voter turnout of 46.12 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls.

3:54 PM

New record will likely be made in J-K elections, says Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat  said that there was a time when the voting percentage was in single digits due to the threats from terrorists but now a new record of voting percentage is likely to be created.

3:48 PM

Complete mismanagement and unemployment in J&K, says Cong leader Supriya Shrinate

"Breakthrough elections are going on in Jammu and Kashmir. J&K is electing for its future. There has been complete mismanagement and unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir for the last 10 years... Their resources have been distributed among outsiders. The statehood was taken away. It has never happened in the history of independent India that the status of state was reduced to a Union Territory," Congress leader Supriya Shrinate stated today.

 

3:45 PM

Festival of democracy taking place in J&K, says CEC Rajiv Kumar

"It is a festival of democracy. Voting is taking place in areas where it did not take place earlier.... There were calls for disruption and boycott in the past.... It is a standing ovation for democracy," CEC Rajiv Kumar said in the presence of fellow election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

3:06 PM

Cong, its allies don't like peace; they want to bring back Article 370 in J-K: PM Modi at Haryana rally

PM Modi stated today that hatred towards reservation is embedded in Congress's DNA and people must be cautious of its anti-reservation tactics.

2:57 PM

Centre wanted J-K to be run by outsiders and not locals, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the statehood was snatched from J&K to benefit "outsiders" through Lt Governor. "As long as the Lt Governor is there, outsiders will benefit and the locals will be sidelined. This was the reason that statehood was snatched from J-K. They wanted J-K to be run by outsiders and not locals," he said.

2:40 PM

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections: Almost 37% voter turnout till 1:00 pm

Officials stated that around 36% voter turnout was recorded till 11 am in the second phase of J&K Assembly elections.

1:40 PM

Will come on roads to ensure J&K's statehood restored: Rahul Gandhi at rally

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that the government committed grave discrimination against the people of J&K by downgrading the state to UT. Congress will come on the roads to ensure that statehood is restored, Gandhi added.

1:36 PM

I congratulate people for taking part in festival of democracy: PM Modi

"Voting is taking place peacefully in J-K; I congratulate people for taking part in festival of democracy with great enthusiasm," PM Modi said today at a rally in Haryana.

1:13 PM

J&K Assembly polls: Women voters concerned about rising electricity bill amounts

The election campaign of all the major political parties in Jammu and Kashmir revolved around the revocation and restoration of the erstwhile state's special status but women voters are more worried about the rising electricity bill amounts. "The electricity supply has been destroyed and tariff meters have been installed. Now they say water consumption will also be metered," an elderly woman told the US Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi, Jorgan K Andrews.

12:47 PM

J-K Assembly elections: Voters enthusiastic, this is history in the making, says CEC Rajiv Kumar

"People are coming out to vote in large numbers. This is a history in the making. We are very happy that the voting is taking place in the entire valley and Jammu with enthusiasm. Be it the valley of Srinagar, be it the high mountain peaks from where the calls for disruption used to come, everywhere people are coming out to vote. Even in areas where there used to be calls for boycotts, there is enthusiasm among voters. It is for the world to see that how the elections can take place in J&K in a peaceful, fair manner. A large number of diplomats are also around in the area to see the assembly elections," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said. 

12:38 PM

Voter turnout in second phase will be higher than that the first, says Nirmal Singh

"I am confident that the voter turnout in the second phase of J&K assembly elections will be higher than that of the first phase...People are coming out to vote in large numbers," BJP leader and former J&K Deputy CM Nirmal Singh said.

 

12:02 PM

Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections LIVE update: Voter turnout till 11:00 am

24.10% voter turnout registered till 11 am in the second phase of J&K Assembly elections.

11:47 AM

J&K elections LIVE update: PDP candidate from Charari Sharief seat Ghulam Nabi Lone exercises his ballot

PDP candidate from Charari Sharief assembly constituency Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura exercised his franchise at a polling booth, in the second phase of J&K Assembly elections.

 

11:17 AM

Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah slams Centre for inviting foreign diplomats

NC leader Omar Abdullah hit out at the central government for inviting foreign delegations to witness the polling process, labelling them guided tourists. “When the same people comment on J&K, government of India issues a statement that Jammu & Kashmir is our internal matter and others should not interfere. If you do not want interference or their comments, why are they being brought here?,” Abdullah said.

10:53 AM

Every vote for INDIA bloc will break 'chakravyuh of injustice': LoP Rahul Gandhi to people of J-K

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday told the people that their every vote for the INDIA bloc will break the "chakravyuh of injustice" created by the BJP and bring J&K on the path of prosperity. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also urged the voters to think about the decade "lost in betrayal" and remember how their state was downgraded to a Union Territory.

10:26 AM

J-K elections update: Senior diplomats from US, Norway, Singapore witness ongoing assembly polls

10:00 AM

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections: Over 10% voting in first 2 hours in J-K

A voter turnout of 10.22 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of polling in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections, an official said on Wednesday.

The voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements.

9:38 AM

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls: Vaishno Devi seat heads to its inaugural election

BJP candidates Baldev Raj Sharma (from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly seat) and Ravinder Raina were seen offering prayers ahead of the polling. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly seat is heading into its inaugural elections. Read here for more details.

9:35 AM

Jammu and Kashmir experiences high voter turnout in early voting period

The voting in the second phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir began at a brisk note Wednesday morning with queues of electors seen at multiple polling booths across all the 26 seats, officials said. While the Chrar-e-Sharif assembly segment in central Kashmir's Budgam district witnessed heavy polling, the two seats in Ganderbal district recorded brisk polling as well. However, the polling was yet to pick up in Srinagar district, the officials said.