100-Year-Old Mala Begum and Other Elderly Voters Shine in Jammu and Kashmir Elections
In the final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, elderly voters, including 100-year-old Mala Begum, showcased their dedication to democracy. The Election Commission of India (ECI) highlighted their participation, with notable mentions of 95-year-old Bal Krishan and 96-year-old Kamala Devi.
Udhampur district recorded the highest voter turnout at 33.84%, followed by Kathua at 31.78% and Samba at 31.50%. Baramulla had the lowest turnout at 23.20%. Voting took place in 24 constituencies in the Jammu division and 16 in Kashmir, with strong security measures in place.
This election is significant as the first in a decade and the first since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. The three-phase election involves a multi-party contest for 90 seats across the former state. The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have formed an alliance, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are among the other major contenders.
The first phase of voting took place on September 18, and the second phase concluded on September 25. The first and second phases recorded voter turnouts of 61% and 57.31%, respectively. The counting of votes will be done on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Mala Begum -: Mala Begum is a 100-year-old woman who participated in the Jammu and Kashmir elections. She is an example of elderly people showing their commitment to voting.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It has its own elections to choose leaders for its local government.
Election Commission of India -: The Election Commission of India is a group that organizes and oversees elections in India. They make sure the elections are fair and run smoothly.
Udhampur district -: Udhampur is a district in Jammu and Kashmir. It had the highest number of people voting in this election phase.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special law that gave Jammu and Kashmir more independence from the rest of India. It was removed, and now the region follows the same laws as the rest of India.
multi-party contest -: A multi-party contest means that many different political parties are competing in the elections. Voters can choose from several parties to decide who will lead.
90 seats -: In this election, there are 90 positions or ‘seats’ available in the local government. Different candidates are competing to win these seats.
