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The stage is set for first assembly elections after ten decades to be held in Jammu and Kashmir from today. As many as 24 seats across six districts of the Union Territory (UT) will vote in the first phase of polling today, September 18. This also marks the beginning of three-phase assembly polls – the first such exercise in the erstwhile state since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The 24 constituencies voting today are spread across Pir Panjal - 16 in Kashmir and eight in Jammu region. Voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm, the said. As many as 219 candidates are competing in the first phase.
Overall, 23,27,580 electors are eligible to vote, according to the poll panel. Overall 14,000 polling staff will oversee the process at 3,276 polling stations in the first phase, the poll panel said. The constituencies that vote today include Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam in Kashmir.
In Jammu, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal are voting today. The Congress and the NC are fighting the elections in alliance. The PDP, (BJP), People’s Conference, to name a few, are other parties in the fray.
The last assembly election held in was in 2014. The PDP-BJP government formed then could not last the full 6-year term as BJP withdrew its support to former Chief Minister ’s (PDP) in 2018. Since then, the erstwhile state has been under central rule.
Prominent candidates from Kashmir whose fate will be sealed in EVMs today include CPI-M's , who is seeking a fifth consecutive term from Kulgam seat. PDP's Iltija Mufti, daughter of party chief Mehbooba Mufti, is contesting from family bastion Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat. Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para of the PDP is the candidate from Pulwama assembly seat.
Para lost from Srinagar parliamentary seat. Assembly polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases. The two more phases will be held on September 25 and October 1.
The votes will be counted on October 8. Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 Live: Phase 1 voting to begin shortly; first election in 10 years Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 Live: The first assembly elections after ten decades is being held in Jammu and Kashmir from today. In all 24 seats across six districts of the Union Territory (UT) will vote in the first phase of polling today.
The voting also marks the beginning of three-phase assembly polls – the first such exercise in the erstwhile state since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019..
