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‘Jamhooriyat…': LG invokes ex-PM Vajpayee as J&K sees record turnout in phase one of polls
A provisional turnout of 58.85% was recorded till 7pm on Wednesday evening, officials said.
The record voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir proves ‘Jamhooriyat’ (democracy) is ‘flourishing’ in the Union territory, lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said after the conclusion of the first leg of polling on Wednesday.
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“Congratulations J&K for a historic voter turnout! I would like to thank all voters, who exercised their franchised in 1st Phase. Record polling in the peaceful, free & fair election attests to the strength of Indian democracy & people's faith in democratic values,” the LG's office posted on X.
Further, the lieutenant governor congratulated ‘all my sisters’ and first-time voters for their ‘large participation.’
“Heartfelt gratitude to outstanding security forces, JKP & Election Officials. Approx 59% polling in first phase shows Jamhooriyat is flourishing in J&K,” he added, invoking the iconic slogan given by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The 'long queues of voters,' Sinha remarked, ‘demolished the motivated propaganda of the adversaries.’ He also lauded the electorate for ‘rebuffing’ the ‘agenda' of 'divisive elements’ and ‘reaffirming’ faith in democracy.
As per Election Commission's data, a provisional turnout of 58.85% (till 7pm) was recorded in the first leg. The final numbers will be higher as final reports are being received from the remote pockets and postal ballots, PTI quoted PK Pole, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, as saying.
Also Read: Out of Kashmir, Pandits vote with hope of return to Valley
The region is holding its first assembly polls since November-December 2014. These is also the first such exercise here since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 that gave the Valley its ‘special status’. Then, two months later, the then state became a Union territory.
Meanwhile, after Wednesday, there are two more phases of polling: September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes is on October 8.
