Voting for first phase of Assembly Elections begins
Voting for the first phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir has begun. Twenty-four constituencies spread over seven districts are going to the polls today. Over 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the polls. The voting began at 7 this morning and will end at 6 in the evening. The second phase of polling will be held on the 25th of September, and voting for the third phase will be held on the 1st of October. The counting of votes will be held on October 8.
Voting commenced in three districts of Chenab valley in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, having over 7.14 lakh eligible voters, to decide the fate of 64 candidates in the first phase of the assembly elections being held after a decade.
Besides Chenab Valley, the first phase of assembly elections also covered four districts of south Kashmir, including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian, which have 16 assembly constituencies.
Meanwhile, 24 polling stations—19 in Jammu, one in Udhampur, and four in Delhi—have been set up to facilitate more than 35 thousand Kashmiri Pandits to exercise their franchise in the first phase. The voting is scheduled to end at 6 PM.
