Iltija Mufti Urges Fair Elections in Jammu and Kashmir Amid High Voter Turnout
Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), September 18: Iltija Mufti, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from the Bijbehara Assembly constituency, expressed her satisfaction with the voter turnout in the ongoing Assembly elections. She urged the central government in Delhi to respect the mandate and ensure a free, fair, and transparent election.
Mufti stated, “I am pleased to see people coming out to vote. I have been visiting polling booths since morning, and both the young and elderly have come out to cast their votes. Delhi must honour this mandate and ensure that the election is free, fair, and transparent.”
She also mentioned receiving reports of potential malpractice by the opposition, though these claims are yet to be verified. Additionally, there were complaints about the National Conference (NC) and their handling of people.
As of 3 pm, voter turnout in the first phase of the Assembly polls in the Union Territory stood at 50.65%. Kishtwar district recorded the highest turnout at 70.03%, while Pulwama had the lowest at 36.90%. Voting began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm.
Kashmiri migrant voters cast their ballots under tight security at the ITI College campus in Jammu. BJP’s Kishtwar candidate, Shagun Parihar, launched a strong attack on opposition candidates from the PDP and National Conference, accusing them of undermining her by alleging that she was playing the victim card to garner sympathy.
In the first phase, 24 Assembly constituencies across the Union Territory are voting today, with 16 seats in the Kashmir region and 8 in the Jammu region. Voting for the second and third phases in J&K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Vote counting is scheduled for October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Iltija Mufti -: Iltija Mufti is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir. She is the daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, who is a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
People’s Democratic Party -: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. It was founded by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and is currently led by his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti.
Bijbehara -: Bijbehara is a town in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its historical significance and beautiful landscapes.
Central government -: The central government refers to the government of India, which is responsible for the entire country. It is different from state governments, which manage individual states.
Voter turnout -: Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their vote in an election. It shows how many people participated in the voting process.
Kishtwar district -: Kishtwar is a district in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its scenic beauty and mountainous terrain.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India and is currently the ruling party at the central government level.
Shagun Parihar -: Shagun Parihar is a candidate from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Jammu and Kashmir elections. She is competing against candidates from other parties.
Constituencies -: Constituencies are specific geographic areas that elect a representative to a legislative body. In this case, they are areas in Jammu and Kashmir that elect members to the Assembly.
Vote counting -: Vote counting is the process of tallying the votes cast in an election to determine the winners. It usually happens after all phases of voting are completed.