Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024: In Jammu and Kashmir, assembly elections are scheduled to be held in the first phase today with a massive political event in the Union Territory. Voting will be held in 24 Assembly constituencies as 219 candidates are contesting these seats. This is the first assembly election in ten years-ten, in fact, since the last was held in 2014-and follows the August 2019 revocation of Article 370, which, as is famously known, accorded special status to this region.
Early Start as Voting Begins Across Kashmir and Jammu
The process started early at 7 am in the morning and will continue till 6 pm. Voters throughout the states of Kashmir and Jammu have been seemingly enthusiastic, with long queues coming out of polling stations, which are relatively more prominent in Pulwama. In the first phase, voting is being held today on 24 assembly seats of the Union Territory, including 16 seats in Kashmir region and 8 seats in Jammu region. The Election Commission of India has taken strict security measures on all the constituencies across the region for an incident-free voting process.
JP Nadda Appeals to Youth
JP Nadda and PM Modi have appealed to vote in large numbers. In a ‘X’ post, Nadda appealed especially to the youth and first-time voters to raise their voice on the voting day, saying “Today, I appeal to all the voters, especially the youth, who are voting in the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, to vote in large numbers. Each of your votes will play an important role in building a safe, peaceful and progress-oriented Jammu and Kashmir. In the past few years, after a long struggle, the state has entered a new era of peace, secure future and inclusive democracy; this election will bring a new dawn of progress for the people. First vote, then refreshment.”
PM Modi Urges Voters to Strengthen Democracy
PM Modi Tweeted, “As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise.”
Vikram Verma said that with these long years of struggle, the state has entered a new era of peace and democracy. PM Modi also echoed the same words and appealed to voters to come out and exercise democratic rights.
The election is scheduled to occur in three phases, with the second and third phases dated for September 25 and October 1. Vote counting is scheduled on October 8, 2024. Of course, this election is a step toward the building of the future for Jammu and Kashmir after the epic changes in its politics within recent years.