J&K Assembly Elections: 11.11% turnout recorded till 9 am in first phase of elections – Times of India

SRINAGAR: The first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir saw a cumulative voter turnout of 11.11 percent till 9 am on Wednesday, according to the Election Commission of India.
According to the latest ECI data, the voter turnout in Kishtwar at 9 am was 14.83 per cent, taking the lead while Pulwama recorded 9.18 per cent.
Anantnag was up 10.26 percent, Doda 12.90 percent, Kulgam According to the ECI, the turnout at 9am was 10.77 percent, Ramban 11.91 percent and Shopian 11.44 percent.
District Election Officer, Doda Harvinder Singh said, “The voting has started at the polling stations. We are seeing a lot of enthusiasm from the people. I hope that this time we will be able to register a good turnout. A very good polling is going on in a free and fair manner… Those who are sitting at home should come out of their houses and exercise their right to vote…”
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Athar Aamir, said there were long queues of people at several polling stations.
“Elections are going on very smoothly everywhere, voting is going on at our 372, 372 polling stations. The mock election was completed at 7 am at 100% polling stations. There are long queues at various polling stations. We have also set up webcast camera stations and we are monitoring them from the district level control room. We are also monitoring each polling station from here. We are expecting a very good turnout. All arrangements have been made… More than 1300 polling station officials are present at various polling stations across J&K,” DC Kulgam said.
Voting for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir state elections began at 7 am today amid tight security. The polling will end at 6 pm. Voters had formed long queues at polling stations this morning. In the first phase, 24 constituencies in the Union Territory will vote today, including 16 seats in Kashmir and eight seats in Jammu.
Leader of the BJP Altaf Thakur said that the people of JK are keen to make their voices heard through this democratic process.
“People are very excited and have been standing in long queues since 6 am to cast their votes. Jammu and Kashmir has changed. People want to express their voice through democracy. Kashmir has now rejected terrorism, separatism, bombs, grenades and bullets and has chosen the ballot paper and wants to express itself through the ballot paper. After 2019, people are proud of Indian democracy and today people are coming out to exercise their democratic rights. It seems that Prime Minister Modi’s slogan of New Jammu and Kashmir has now become successful,” Altaf Thakur said.
JD(U) Jammu & Kashmir president GM Shaheen said the elections will witness a record turnout.
“I told you that these elections will break records. Today’s elections are against dynastic politics in Jammu and Kashmir… I am confident that these elections will break records and the voter turnout will be the highest in the country. People were very upset and people were waiting for the elections. These elections are for the government, for a good government,” Shaheen said.
Voting for the second and third phases in J&K will be held on September 25 and October 1 respectively. Counting of votes will take place on October 8.