J&K assembly election 2024 highlights: Voter turnout stands at 58.85%; Kishtwar sees highest, Pulwama lowest

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: The Election Commission of India released a statement after phase 1 of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, reporting an approximate voter turnout of 58.85% as of 7.30 pm. Polling took place at 3,276 polling stations across 24 Assembly Constituencies in seven districts: Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Ramban, and Doda. Voter participation in each of these districts surpassed the levels seen during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: The voter turnout during the first phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 58.19 per cent as of 5 pm, with the highest turnout in Kishtwar at 77.23 per cent and the lowest in Pulwama at 43.87 per cent.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: During the Phase 1 voting for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir stated, “People have chosen to vote peacefully because democracy was lacking here. It is crucial for citizens to select their representatives, even though the resulting government may be largely powerless in the Union Territory.”

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: In Anantnag, J&K, PDP candidate Iltija Mufti from the Bijbehara Assembly constituency expressed her satisfaction with voter turnout, saying, “I'm pleased to see people coming out to vote. I've been visiting polling booths since morning, and both the young and elderly are participating. Delhi should respect this mandate and ensure the election is free, fair, and transparent. We have heard reports of the other party engaging in malpractice, though these claims are not yet confirmed. Additionally, there are complaints about the NC's alleged mistreatment of voters. Engineer Rashid should be released.”

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: The voter turnout during the first phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 50.65 per cent as of 3 pm, with the highest turnout in Kishtwar at 70.03 per cent and the lowest in Pulwama at 36.90 per cent.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: The Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday expelled a district unit president and several other leaders from its basic membership. This action was taken due to their decision to run as Independents in the assembly elections, which contravened the spirit of the party’s alliance with the National Conference (NC).

A spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said, “We will not tolerate any breach of alliance unity.”

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: Amid the first phase of polling for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Iltija Mufti, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter and party candidate for the Bijbehara Assembly constituency, said, “People here felt hopeless due to the lack of elections over the past 10 years, which has led to increased corruption and red tape. However, the issues affecting the people will soon be addressed in the Assembly and resolved.”

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami praised the voter turnout in the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, calling it “historic”. He emphasised that people are “eager for peace and development.”

Dhami also stated that since the removal of Article 370, significant progress has been made in J&K, with terrorism declining and tourism increasing.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: The voter turnout during the first phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 41.17 percent as of 1 pm, with the highest turnout in Kishtwar at 56.86 per cent and the lowest in Pulwama at 29.84 per cent.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: Voting was halted for a brief period at a polling station in Bagwan Mohalla, Kishtwar following a protests over identification of voters.

"There was some confusion among people here, there was a crowd here and it has been resolved. There was some issue regarding identification, one person did not have an identity card. The situation is normal, voting has resumed," Kishtwar DM Rajesh Kumar Shavan said.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: J&K Congress expelled Srinagar district unit president Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan and few other leaders from the party's basic membership for breaching the party's alliance with National Conference (NC) to contest the assembly polls as independent candidates.

"Breach of alliance unity shall not be tolerated," a spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: "My brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir, today the first phase of voting is being held. For the first time in the history of the country, a state's statehood has been taken away and it has been made a union territory - this is a violation of all your constitutional rights, an insult to Jammu and Kashmir. Your every vote for INDIA will ensure return of your rights, will bring employment, will make women strong, will bring you out of the 'era of injustice'...will make Jammu and Kashmir prosperous again. Today, come out of your homes in the largest of numbers possible and exercise your democratic right - vote for INDIA," Rahul Gandhi posted on social platform X.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: “The long wait of the people has ended today. I am happy that they will be able to elect the government,” said Sunil Sharma, BJP candidate from Padder Nagseni assembly constituency.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: Around 26.72% voter turnout was recorded till 11 am on Wednesday. Voter turnout across constituencies are as follows.

Anantnag-25.55%

Doda- 32.30%

Kishtwar-32.69%

Kulgam-25.95%

Pulwama-20.37%

Ramban-31.25%

Shopian-25.96%

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: "Polling is going on very smoothly in all 4 Assembly constituencies and all our sector magistrates, zonal magistrates are also in the field. I am also visiting the polling stations and there is a lot of enthusiasm among our voters and voting is going on smoothly," said Pulwama Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Basharat Qayoom.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from Pulwama Assembly constituency Waheed Para said that people want change, and this election process is to “reclaim whatever we have lost”.

“Pulwama has been stigmatized. This is an election for us to reclaim the image of Pulwama, the youth of Pulwama, and the people of Pulwama and we are optimistic. We want people to come out in this election and vote for peace, progress, development and dignity of J&K,” he said.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: "J&K Assembly elections commence today. I call upon all the voters whose assembly constituencies are voting in the first phase today to turn out in record numbers & exercise their democratic rights. I especially urge youth, women and first-time voters to vote in large numbers," Sinha wrote on X.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: "Voting has started in polling stations. We are getting to see a lot of enthusiasm from the people. I hope that this time we will be able to record the voter turnout well. A very good polling exercise is going on in a free and fair manner. Those who are sitting at home, they should come out of their houses and exercise their voting rights," said Doda District Election Officer Harvinder Singh.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: CPI (M) candidate from Kulgam assembly constituency, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami urged people to vote in large numbers.

"It is very important to keep peace in the region...We demand that statehood should be restored. The constitutional rights which were taken away from us should be given back. There is a lack of industry in the region and even educated people are struggling for jobs. This is a very big issue," Tarigami said.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the people have not forgotten the abrogation of special status August 5, 2019. He also expressed hope that people will vote for the NC-Congress alliance.

"We are hoping that people will vote for candidates of our alliance between National Conference and Congress and the one candidate of CPM. Voters will decide. We took our agenda of next five years for Jammu and Kashmir to the people. Let's see what happens. These elections are very important as they are being held after 10 years. Several things changed in these 10 years. Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two. Ladakh was separated from us. We were given status of UT (Union Territory) though we don't know how it benefitted us. We have not forgot what happened with Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019," Abdullah said.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: “The message is to come out and vote, and democratically participate in this festival. Elections are happening after 10 years. For us, voting is an act of self-preservation,” said JKPDP candidate from Pulwama Assembly constituency Waheed Ur Rehman Para.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: “I hope people will vote against the enemies of Kashmir, who only betrayed us. I hope people will consider all the things and will vote for Awami Ittehad Party,” said Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla Engineer Rashid.

J&K assembly election 2024 live updates: Srigufwara-Bijbehara candidate Iltija Mufti alleged that National Conference (NC) party workers distributed money to voters in South Kashmir's Bijbehara & Sallar.

“This is the extent they are stooping to. Request @ECISVEEP @JmuKmrPolice to take cognisance immediately @manojsinha_ @HMOIndia,” she wrote on X.