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Elections to phase 3 of the Assembly Elections in J&K recorded 65.58 percent polling as of 7 PM today, which is going to surpass the Lok Sabha 2024 voter turnout in these 7 districts, which was 66.78 percent
The voter turnout in phases 1 and 2 of the ongoing assembly elections in J&K also recorded a higher turnout than the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While 7 districts in phase 1 recorded 61.38 percent in these assembly elections, it was 60 percent in the LS 2024 elections. Similarly, 6 districts that went for polls in phase 2 recorded 57.31 percent in these assembly elections and had 52.17 percent turnout in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The elections, which happened peacefully without any incidents of violence and re-polls so far, reaffirm the confidence and sentiment expressed by the Chief Election Commissioner, (CEC) Rajiv Kumar while announcing the elections in the Union Territory of J&K. The CEC had said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir, with their enthusiastic participation, will give a befitting response to the nefarious forces trying to disrupt the democratic process. The foundation that was built by the successful Lok Sabha Election in 2024 has indeed been further strengthened, as emphasised by CEC Kumar. EC has delivered on its promise by walking the talk with smooth and seamless conduct of assembly elections, after a decade in J&K. This is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Among the 40 constituencies, 24 are in the Jammu division and the rest in the Kashmir Valley. At least 415 candidates, including former deputy Chief Ministers Tara Chand of Congress and Muzaffar Hussain Beig, are contesting in the third phase. High-profile leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (BJP), Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and former J-K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, held extensive campaigning for weeks. The West Pakistani refugee community was exercising their right to vote for the first time in the assembly elections after gaining citizenship following the abrogation of Article 370. The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have formed an alliance for these elections, while the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are among the other major contenders. The counting of votes will take place on October 8 (ANI).
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