India is holding regional assembly elections in the territory of Jammu & Kashmir after a gap of 10 years.
It is also the first election since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government abolished Article 370 in 2019, revoking the territory’s special status.
Voters line up to cast their vote in Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections. (ANI)
Polls are being held in three phases from 18 September and will conclude on 1 October. Two phases have already been conducted, with voter turnout reported at 61% and 56% in the first and second phases, respectively.
Young voters “want change”
For the first time in decades, voters are enthusiastic about the polls, with young voters vouching for real change, jobs, and education. Even separatist leaders are participating in the election, contesting from several seats. For example, the outlawed Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) party has joined hands with the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) to contest the polls.
According to local newspaper The Rising Kashmir, young voters in the Srinagar and Budgam segments said that their vote was for employment.
“We hope the newly elected government will address job concerns and create a better future for everyone,” the newspaper quoted a young voter Javid Ahmad as saying.
Voter turnout was above 60% in the first phase of J&K assembly elections. (Election Commission of India)
Mohammad Umar, another young voter from Lawaypora polling station, told this newspaper that youth were hoping for “real change”.
“What we need now is action – jobs, not just empty promises,” he said, calling for the new government to create new opportunities in private sector growth and entrepreneurship.
“We need policies that encourage private investment and allow us to create jobs for ourselves.”
Many other youth queuing up to cast their vote expressed hope for a government that will prioritize addressing unemployment and reforming the recruitment process to ensure fairness and transparency.
Key parties and alliances
Election is being held across 90 constituencies of Jammu & Kashmir. It will conclude on 1 October, with vote counting set for 4 October.
According to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, some 8.7 million people, including 4.26 million women, are eligible to vote.
Referring to the region normally known for its terror and dispute problem, Kumar told media persons that the region had now opted “for ballot over bullet” – as the region had witnessed a historic voter turnout of 58.46% in the recently-held parliamentary elections, a 30-point jump in voter turnout from the 2019 general election.
Among the key parties and alliances contesting the polls, is the Indian main opposition Congress party, which has formed an alliance with Kashmir’s mainstream political party Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC or simply NC) led by Farooq Abdullah, and his son Omar Abdullah, both former CMs of the state. The alliance also allocates one seat each to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) in South Kashmir and Panthers Party in the Jammu division.
India’s central ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is contesting the election independently on 62 of 90 seats.
Voter turnout has been recorded at 56% in the second phase of the J&K assembly polls. (Election Commission of India)
Another mainstream political party from J&K, the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is contesting from 63 seats, under the leadership of party supremo Mehbooba Mufti, former CM.
Other notable parties in the race include Sajjad Lone’s J&K People’s Conference (PC), former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), and Altaf Bukhari’s J&K Apni Party.
Engineer Rashid, recently in the news for defeating Omar Abdullah in parliamentary elections despite being in jail, is also in the fray in the assembly polls. He was granted interim bail earlier this month on terror funding charges he denies, to return to J&K to campaign in the elections. Here is the list of constituencies going to polls in the three phases:
Phase 1: 24 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir going to polls
- Pampore
- Tral
- Pulwama
- Rajpora
- Zainapora
- Shopian
- D H Pora
- Kulgam
- Devsar
- Dooru
- Kokernag (ST)
- Anantnag West
- Anantnag
- Srigufwara Bijbehara
- Shangus Anantnag East
- Pahalgam
- Inderwal
- Kishtwar
- Padder – Nagseni
- Bhadarwah
- Doda
- Doda West
- Ramban
- Banihal
Phase 2: 26 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir going to polls
- Kangan (ST)
- Ganderbal
- Hazratbal
- Khanyar
- Habbakadal
- Lal Chowk
- Channapora
- Zadibal
- Eidgah
- Central Shalteng
- Budgam
- Beerwah
- Khansahib
- Chrar-i-Sharief
- Chadoora
- Gulabgarh (ST)
- Reasi
- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
- Kalakote- Sunderbani
- Nowshera
- Rajouri (ST)
- Budhal (ST)
- Thannamandi (ST)
- Surankote (ST)
- Poonch Haveli
- Mendhar (ST)
Phase 3: 40 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir going to polls
- Karnah
- Trehgam
- Kupwara
- Lolab
- Handwara
- Langate
- Sopore
- Rafiabad
- Uri
- Baramulla
- Gulmarg
- Wagoora – Kreeri
- Pattan
- Sonawari
- Bandipora
- Gurez (ST)
- Udhampur West
- Udhampur East
- Chenani
- Ramnagar (SC)
- Bani
- Billawar
- Basohli
- Jasrota
- Kathua (SC)
- Hiranagar
- Ramgarh (SC)
- Samba
- Vijaypur
- Bishnah (SC)
- Suchetgarh (SC)
- R.S. Pura – Jammu South
- Bahu
- Jammu East
- Nagrota
- Jammu West
- Jammu North
- Marh (SC)
- Akhnoor (SC)
- Chhamb
