Voting Record Broken in South Kashmir; Excitement After 10 Years With 61.13% Turnout in First Phase of Assembly Elections
Srinagar, 19th September 2024: People turned out in large numbers on Wednesday (18th September) for the first phase of voting in the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the first since the repeal of Article 370. Long queues formed early in the morning outside polling stations in south Kashmir and Jammu division’s Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar, areas that have previously been centers of terrorist violence.
By late evening, voter turnout had reached 61.13%. With 53.54% turnout in Shopian and 46.03% in Pulwama, the voting percentage surpassed that of the four Lok Sabha and three assembly elections held since 2008.
The second phase of voting is scheduled for 25th September, with the third and final phase set for 1st October. The atmosphere around these elections, the first in 10 years, is markedly different—there has been no terrorist violence or separatist interference. Even Tral, once known as a hotbed of terrorism, was among the 24 assembly constituencies where voting took place.
Displaced Kashmiri Hindus also showed enthusiasm for voting, though only 30% turnout was recorded for the 16 valley seats. Twenty-four special polling stations were set up for them in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi. In Jammu alone, 9,500 votes were cast across 19 special polling stations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha encouraged voters to participate early in the day. The Prime Minister posted on X (formerly Twitter), urging voters—especially youth and first-time voters—to come out in large numbers and strengthen democracy.
With the close of voting, the political fate of 219 candidates was sealed in EVMs. Among the notable contenders are Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, from Bijbehara, and the former state Congress president G.A. Mir from Duru.
