Voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly started picking up after a brisk start on Wednesday with overall polling percentage touching 11.11 per cent in the first two-and-a-half hours, officials said.
Ramban, Kishtwar, Inderwal, Doda (West) , Doda, Bhaderwah, Shopian, Padder-Nagseni, Pahalgam and Kokernag constituencies, among others, recording over 12 per cent voting. In the initial two-and-a-half hours, Inderwal recorded the highest 16.01 per cent voting after polling began at 7 am at all 3,276 polling stations across J&K.
Long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths including Mazmu area in Kulgam district in south Kashmir, as electorate showed enthusiasm in taking part in first major democratic exercise to elect an Assembly in a decade in Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 and conversion of the State into a Union Territory in August 2019. The last Assembly election in the erstwhile J&K state was held in 2014.
As data on voting percentage started pouring in, officials in Anantnag district said in the first two hours Pahalgam recorded 12.56 per cent voting, Kokernag 12 per cent, Dooru 10.42 per cent, Ang West 8.55 per cent, Anantnag 6 per cent, Srigufawara Bijbehara 11.6 per cent and Shangus 10.28 per cent.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon voters, especially “young and first-time voters,” to exercise their franchise as the first phase of assembly elections has begun in Jammu and Kashmir.
On the social media post of X, PM Narendra Modi wrote, “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.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also appealed to voters in Jammu and Kashmir to come out and vote in large numbers to bring peace, stability, justice and progress in the Union Territory. “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 on X.
