Voters stand in queues at a polling station to cast votes during the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, at Surankote constituency of Poonch district, J&K.
Credit: PTI Photo
A comprehensive network of 745 polling stations has been established across Rajouri district which has the highest 4,92,008 electorates including 2,35,786 women and seven transgender voters.
As many as 483 polling stations have been set up for a total of 3,52,330 voters, including 1,71,746 women, in Poonch district
3 districts brace for voting in shadow of string of terror attacks
Adequate security arrangements have been put in place across all 11 assembly segments in the three hill districts to ensure a secure atmosphere for voters to exercise their franchise, officials said.
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The voting across all assembly seats in Phase 2 is expected to commence at 7 am today and end at 6 pm.
Security stepped up at polling booths ahead of second phase
The security forces personnel comprising police, armed police and central armed paramilitary forces left for the polling stations early morning, the officials said.
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Hindu refugees from Pakistan to vote in Indian UT's polls for first time
Known as West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs), these families migrated from West Punjab, what is now Pakistan, after the 1947 partition.
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Preparations underway at a polling station in Jammu, set up for the Kashmiri migrants living there
Mock polling at 5:30 am in several voting booths
Voting for the second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir begins
Watch | People queue up to cast their votes
Omar, Ravinder Raina among 239 candidates in fray in 2nd phase
Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election.
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Expect good turnout in phase 2: Omar Abdullah
Ravinder Raina is in the fray today. Here's what his father said
Over 10% voting in first 2 hours
A voter turnout of 10.22 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of polling in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections, an official said on Wednesday.
The Surankote (ST) seat in the Jammu region recorded the overall highest voting percentage at 14.57 per cent, followed closely by Poonch Haveli at 14.56 per cent.
The maximum voting percentage among the 15 assembly segments in the Kashmir Valley was recorded in Kangan (ST) at 13.52. It was followed by Chrar-i-Sharief at 13 per cent and Ganderbal at 12.06 per cent.
The lowest 2.63 per cent voting was recorded in the Habbakadal constituency here, they said. (PTI)
Assembly Elections 2024 | In the first assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP face a rejuvenated and vindicated Opposition in the Haryana assembly polls. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is voting after almost a decade and it remains to be seen how the abrogation of Article 370 has impacted the political landscape of the Valley. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
BJP chief casts vote in Nowshera, says party will win
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina cast his vote Wednesday morning in his Nowshera assembly constituency in Rajouri district and expressed confidence the party will form the government in the union territory.
People will overwhelmingly vote for peace and development undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the last decade, he said. (PTI)
Man in Budgam alleges his vote already polled, Returning Officer clarifies
J&K Assembly Polls 2024: Five key constituencies to watch out for
When results of Jammu and Kashmir polls will be announced on October 8, five key constituencies of the state are expected to hog the limelight for several reasons, including the high-profile nature of candidates contesting from the segments.
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Delegation of diplomats 'observe' voting in Kashmir
Senior diplomats from the US, Norway, Singapore and many other countries are visiting Kashmir on Wednesday to witness the ongoing assembly elections.
The delegation comprised diplomats from Delhi-based missions of the US, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa , Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria and the Philippines, people familiar with the matter said.
24.1% voter turnout recorded till 11 am
Jammu and Kashmir recorded a voter turnout of 24.10% at 11 am.
Budgam - 25.53%
Ganderbal - 27.20%
Poonch - 33.06%
Rajouri - 30.04%
Reasi - 33.39%
Srinagar - 11.67%
Happy that voting is taking place in J&K with enthusiasm: CEC Rajiv Kumar
Addressing presspersons Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, "People are coming out to vote in large numbers...This is a history in the making...We are very happy that the voting is taking place in the entire valley and Jammu with enthusiasm...Be it the valley of Srinagar, be it the high mountain peaks from where the calls for disruption used to come, everywhere people are coming out to vote. Even in areas where there used to be calls for boycotts, there is enthusiasm among voters...It is for the world to see that how the elections can take place in J&K in a peaceful, fair manner...A large number of diplomats are also around in the area to see the assembly elections..."
NC candidate Rather urges people to vote in large numbers
“It is a matter of happiness that the public of J&K are voting after 10 years…For the past 10 years, the public has been facing a lot of difficulties…I appeal to voters to come out and vote in large numbers…,” JKNC candidate from Charar-i-Sharief Assembly constituency, Abdul Rahim Rather told ANI.
Rahul Gandhi addresses poll rally in Jammu
Addressing a poll rally in Jammu on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said, "In the history of India, after 1947 several UTs were turned into states. States were divided - Telangana was formed out of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand was formed out of Bihar, Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. But for the first time after independence, a state was turned into a UT. This was done to Jammu & Kashmir. This is an injustice to you. Your democratic rights have been snatched away from you. Today J&K, is not run by the people of J&K, it is run by the people of other states. We had thought that you would get back the statehood before elections. That would have been the correct way...But it is fine that they are conducting elections first. But we want your democratic rights, the statehood of J&K is given back to you."
Nearly 37% polling recorded upto 1 pm in second phase
Nearly 37 percent polling was recorded up to 1:00 pm across all 26 assembly constituencies where voting is taking place in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on Wednesday.
“All 26 assembly constituencies across six districts of J&K have recorded 36.93 percent voter turnout till 1 pm”, communicated the office of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.
Foreign diplomats watching J&K polls find it 'very healthy, very democratic'
Srinagar: The members of a foreign delegation who are here on Wednesday to observe the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir expressed satisfaction over the conduct of polls, with some of them saying the process looks comparable to how it happens in their own countries.
Jammu and Kashmir is voting in the second phase of assembly elections in which 26 seats in six districts are going to polls. The Ministry of External Affairs has invited a delegation of diplomats from 16 countries, including the US, Norway and Singapore, to observe the exercise.
The US deputy Chief of the Mission in Delhi Jorgan K Andrews said the voting process looked healthy and democratic.
"It is great to see the enthusiasm; it's great to see Kashmiris out voting after a pause for 10 years. We are very excited to see the results. It looks very healthy and very democratic," Andrews told PTI Videos at a polling station here.
The US diplomat said the process here was similar to how it happens in his country.
"It is very comparable. In my country, we use schools as well for voting. So it looks very similar," he added.
South Korea diplomat Sang Woo Lim liked the idea of Pink polling station, an initiative of the Election Commission of India where polling stations are managed by all-female staff.
"It is my first time here in Kashmir. I am happy to be here as a part of the MEA delegation. I see it is a beautiful place and people are very nice. It is special to witness how democracy works. This idea of a pink polling station is very ingenuous. It is a great way to attract more people to come to vote," Lim added.
Singapore deputy head of the mission in Delhi Cheng Wei Wei Alice said it was wonderful to be part of the delegation observing the polls here.
"I am glad that all the voters showed up. That's wonderful to see. The process is very similar to how we conduct elections in Singapore. We use government buildings for polling stations so that it is easily accessible to voters," she said.
Alice said the delegates were "very thankful to the MEA for organising this trip and allowing us to visit the polling stations".
-PTI
Terror activities fail to deter border residents to enthusiastically vote for next govt in J&K
Rajouri/Poonch: Undeterred by the terror activities over the past three years, the voters in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Pooch lived to their tradition to vote enthusiastically for the formation of the next government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Popularly known as Pir Panjal region, the two districts along with Reasi district and three central Kashmir districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam are voting in the second phase of the three-phase elections on Wednesday.
The fervour was visible among the voters, who started queuing up outside the polling stations, including those set up near the Line of Control (LoC) in both Rajouri and Poonch districts, and the polling was going on peacefully when the last reports were received, officials said.
The authorities have made adequate security arrangements to provide a secure atmosphere for the voters to exercise their democratic right in the backdrop of terror incidents in the two border districts over the past three years.
Rajouri's Dhangri village, which was targeted by the terrorists on the New Year day last year resulting in the killing of seven of its residents and injuries to many others, voted with passion.
-PTI
'History in the making': CEC Rajiv Kumar
New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday described the ongoing Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir as "history in the making", saying people are standing in long queues outside polling booths at places where calls were once given to boycott the democratic exercise.
Taking to reporters here as the second phase of polling was underway on 26 seats in the Union Territory, Kumar said 100 per cent CCTV coverage is available for this phase and one could see youngsters, women and senior citizens patiently standing in queues, awaiting their turn to exercise their franchise.
"It is a festival of democracy. Voting is taking place in areas where it did not take place earlier.... There were calls for disruption and boycott in the past.... It is a standing ovation for democracy," the CEC said in the presence of fellow election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
-PTI
Over 46% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in second phase
WATCH | Foreign delegates visit floating poll booth on Dal Lake
I.N.D.I.A alliance will pressurise PM Modi in Parliament to restore statehood of J&K: Rahul Gandhi at rally in Sopore
WATCH | Visuals from Nowshera assembly constituency at zero point of India-Pak border
I.N.D.I.A bloc will hit the road if statehood not restored in J&K after polls: Rahul Gandhi
Jammu: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said restoration of statehood was the "right" of people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the I.N.D.I.A bloc will hit the road and use "full force" in Parliament and outside if the Centre fails to restore it after assembly polls.
In an election rally here, he said the 2019 decision to bifurcate the erstwhile state into two Union Territories (UTs) was "a grave injustice" to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
"This has never happened in the history of India that we have taken away statehood and transformed a state into a Union Territory," Gandhi, who is the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, said.
"It should have never happened, and I guarantee you that if the BJP does not restore statehood after the elections, we — the I.N.D.I.A alliance — will use our full force in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and even take to the streets for the restoration of statehood to J&K," he asserted.
This rally marked Gandhi's third visit to the region in nearly three weeks, following prior stops in Banihal and Dooru on September 4 and in Surankote and Central-Shalteng on September 23. His visit comes ahead of the crucial third phase of the assembly elections, with the first round having taken place on September 18 and the second on September 25.
-PTI
54% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in second phase
Not even future generations of Rahul Gandhi, Farooq Abdullah can bring back Article 370: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Smriti Irani promises 'free LPG cylinders' in exchange of votes to BJP at rally in J&K's Samba
WATCH | EC provides special Shikara services for voters living close to Dal Lake
'Lot of enthusiasm was seen among voters': Wasim Qadri, SSP Ganderbal
Over 54% voter turnout recorded till 7 pm in second phase
Polling parties leave booths after conclusion of second phase of voting in J&K
J&K polls phase 2: 20 out of 26 assembly segments register lower voter turnout than in 2014 elections
Srinagar: As many as 20 of the 26 assembly segments that went to polls on Wednesday in the second phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir have registered lower voter turnout than that in the 2014 assembly elections.
According to the data of the Election Commission of India, the overall voting percentage in the 2014 polls was above 60 per cent for the assembly segments in the six districts that went to polls on Wednesday.
J&K Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole, while giving the data for Wednesday's polling, said an estimated 56.05 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the six districts.
Pole said the data was tentative and can go up slightly as polling was going on at some polling stations even at 6.45 pm.
There were 25 assembly segments in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts in the 2014 polls. However, the number increased by one seat to 26 in these six districts following the delimitation exercise undertaken in 2022.
While five assembly segments in Srinagar district recorded a higher turnout than the 2014 polls, all other assembly segments in the five remaining districts recorded a lower voter turnout.
Budgam (66.32 pc in 2014) and Chrar-e-Sharief (82.44 pc in 2014) assembly segments in central Kashmir witnessed the biggest drop of 15 per cent voter turnout followed by Budhal (82.50 pc in 2014) assembly segment which saw a dip of 14 per cent.
-PTI