NEW DELHI: The first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections concluded on Wednesday with a voter turnout of 58.85 per cent across the Kashmir Valley and Jammu regions. Kishtwar recorded the highest turnout at 77 per cent, while Pulwama saw the lowest at just over 46 per cent. This marks the first assembly elections in the state since the abrogation of Article 370.
The first phase of polls covered 24 seats across seven districts with 219 candidates, including 90 independent candidates in the fray.
The previous elections were held in 2014, when the total number of elected seats was 87 (three seats by nomination), including four from Ladakh. BJP and PDP won 25 seats each in Jammu and Kashmir valley, respectively. The National Conference secured 12 of Kashmir’s 46 seats, while Congress took four. In Jammu’s 37 seats, Congress finished second to BJP with five seats, while NC and PDP won three each. Following the 2023 delimitation exercise, the assembly now has 90 seats, with 47 representatives from Kashmir Valley and 43 from Jammu.
In the first phase, the voter turnout gradually increased throughout the day, with 11.11 per cent at 9 am, 26.72 per cent at 1 pm, 50.65 per cent at 3 pm, and finally reaching 58.19 percent by 5 pm. However, this turnout was lower compared to the 71.28 per cent recorded in the first phase and 65.23 per cent in the 2014 assembly elections for 78 seats.
According to officials, the highest voting percentage was recorded in Jammu region’s Inderwal at 80.06 per cent, followed by Padder-Nagseni at 76.80 per cent and Kishtwar at 75.04 per cent. Doda West also recorded a high turnout of 74.14 per cent during the period.
In the Kashmir valley, the Pahalgam segment recorded the highest turnout of 67.86 per cent. It was followed by D H Pora at 65.21 per cent, Kulgam at 59.58, Kokernag at 58 per cent and Dooru at 57.90 per cent.
Assembly polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases. The second phase of the elections will be held on September 25 and the third on November 1. Votes will be counted on October 8.
The first phase of polls covered 24 seats across seven districts with 219 candidates, including 90 independent candidates in the fray.
The previous elections were held in 2014, when the total number of elected seats was 87 (three seats by nomination), including four from Ladakh. BJP and PDP won 25 seats each in Jammu and Kashmir valley, respectively. The National Conference secured 12 of Kashmir’s 46 seats, while Congress took four. In Jammu’s 37 seats, Congress finished second to BJP with five seats, while NC and PDP won three each. Following the 2023 delimitation exercise, the assembly now has 90 seats, with 47 representatives from Kashmir Valley and 43 from Jammu.
In the first phase, the voter turnout gradually increased throughout the day, with 11.11 per cent at 9 am, 26.72 per cent at 1 pm, 50.65 per cent at 3 pm, and finally reaching 58.19 percent by 5 pm. However, this turnout was lower compared to the 71.28 per cent recorded in the first phase and 65.23 per cent in the 2014 assembly elections for 78 seats.
According to officials, the highest voting percentage was recorded in Jammu region’s Inderwal at 80.06 per cent, followed by Padder-Nagseni at 76.80 per cent and Kishtwar at 75.04 per cent. Doda West also recorded a high turnout of 74.14 per cent during the period.
In the Kashmir valley, the Pahalgam segment recorded the highest turnout of 67.86 per cent. It was followed by D H Pora at 65.21 per cent, Kulgam at 59.58, Kokernag at 58 per cent and Dooru at 57.90 per cent.
Assembly polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases. The second phase of the elections will be held on September 25 and the third on November 1. Votes will be counted on October 8.