More than 23 lakh people are entitled to vote(vote)

The first phase of voting is on Wednesday (September 18) in seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Voters  (vote) here will vote in the assembly elections for the first time in 10 years. Preparations for the first phase of voting in the Union Territory on Wednesday have been completed. Votes are to be cast on a total of 24 seats in 3 districts of Jammu region and 4 districts of Kashmir Valley. In the first phase of voting, more than 23 lakh voters will exercise their franchise for 219 candidates including 90 independents.

More than 23 lakh people are entitled to vote

This will be the first assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since the removal of Article 370 in August 2019. According to the Election Commission, a total of 23,27,580 voters are eligible to cast their votes in the first phase, including 11,76,462 men, 11,51,058 women. Along with this, 60 transgender voters are included.

Around 3000 polling booths in rural areas

An Election Commission official said, ‘In the first phase, 1.23 lakh youth aged 18 to 19 years, 28,309 Divyangs and 15,774 elderly voters above 85 years of age will also be able to exercise their franchise. 302 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 2,974 in rural areas. Four election personnel including the presiding officer will be deployed at each polling station.’

These seats are going to polls in the first phase
The assembly seats where voting is to be held on Wednesday include Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Doru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Shrigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangas-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Pader-Nagseni, Bhaderwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban and Banihal assembly seats.

Strict security arrangements
Security arrangements have been made very strict for the first phase of voting. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir region VK Birdi said that Jammu and Kashmir Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the assembly elections, so that maximum number of people can exercise their franchise. Birdi said that many forces of Central Armed Paramilitary Force (CAPF), Jammu Kashmir Armed Police and Jammu Kashmir Police have been deployed for security arrangements.

Tough competition between these major candidates

Among the major candidates in Kashmir, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) is contesting from Kulgram seat for the fifth consecutive time. Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmed Mir is contesting from Dooru for the third time, while Sakina Itoo of National Conference (NC) is contesting from Damhal Hajipora. Sartaj Madni (Devsar) and Abdul Rehman Veeri (Shangas-Anantnag) of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are also among the major candidates.

Iltija Mufti from PDP in the electoral fray

PDP’s Iltija Mufti, who is contesting from Bijbehara assembly seat, is in a triangular contest with Bashir Ahmed Veeri of National Conference and Sofi Mohammad Yusuf of BJP. PDP’s Waheed Para is contesting from Pulwama seat. He is accused in a terrorism case. He is facing a tough challenge from former party colleague and NC candidate Mohammad Khalil. At the same time, the contest has become interesting with the entry of former member of banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Talat Majeed Ali.