Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2024: Voting for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections has commenced today at 7 am. 24 assembly constituencies, including 16 in Kashmir and 8 in Jammu division will go to the polls. In the first phase, around 14,000 polling staff are managing the ballots at 3,276 polling stations.
According to the Election Commission, 219 candidates are contesting in the first phase – 9 women, 92 independents, 110 millionaires, and 36 with criminal cases. Security measures are in full swing across the Union Territory as voters line up to cast their ballots. This marks the first election in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Iltija Mufti Makes Her Electoral Debut
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti is competing in the polls for the first time from the Bijbehara seat in Kashmir.
In the 2014 Assembly polls, the PDP won 28 seats but not enough to form the government while the BJP secured 25. However, both parties formed a coalition government in Indian-administered Kashmir.
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24 Assembly Constituency In Phase 1
Kashmir: Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam
Jammu: Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal are the seats voting.
Results for the 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be declared on October 8, with voting being conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1.
