The voter turnout in the first phase of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir has been impressive, with 41% by 1 PM. This has been a great achievement for the assembly polls of the state, which are taking place after a long time gap of 10 years. Along with that, this is also the first election taking place in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
The cumulative voter turnout for the first phase of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 was 26.72% by 11:00 am on Wednesday, as estimated by the Election Commission of India. This initial phase can be regarded as a critical point in the electoral process for the region as this stage defines further phases of the voting process.
The government has been told to take measures that will ensure that organizations such as Jamaat-e-Islami do not vote and get involved in the electoral process, stated Lok Sabha Member Sheikh Abdul Rashid while criticizing Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Rashid claimed that unlike BJP, which he alleged has been ‘spilling Muslim blood’ and has fueled communal tension in India, Jamaat-e-Islami has vested interests in solving political problems in Jammu and Kashmir. The minister was even more harsh in his reaction, saying, “If the Governor had his way, he would drown all of Kashmir into the river Jehlum,’ how they are bringing democracy into the Valley?” Rashid also asked the Jamaat-e-Islami about its role in the state. “Let me tell you they have done a lot for the social, moral and even educational uplift of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Also, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah raised the issue of the prospect of vote Samarination. He said that a number of Independent options who were vying for a chance in the valley might have the hidden agenda of splitting this demography. “The voters should be very careful with a lot of independents because it looks more like vote splitting and that we should not be dividing the people. ” Abdullah said.
According to the voting process, it was observed that for the first two hours, there was 11. 11 % turnout of voters. Out of 16 assembly segments in the Kashmir Valley, Shopian received the highest voter turn out at 13 percent as followed in Pahalgam 12.56 percent, Kokernag at (ST) at 12 percent and Srigufwara-Bijbehara at 11.60 percent only. Anantnag, however it was marked as low 6% of total vote polling. The Jammu & Kashmir Election 2024 is likely to have an important bearing on the political development in the state.
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