Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections: A Democratic Success
The Election Commission of India announced a 63.88% voter turnout in the recent Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The elections were conducted in three phases, with the third phase on October 1 recording a 69.69% turnout. Notably, female voter participation was slightly higher at 70.02% compared to 69.37% for males in this phase. Overall, male turnout was 64.88%, while female turnout was 63.04%.
Among the constituencies, Chhamb recorded the highest turnout at 80.34% during the third phase. The elections were conducted peacefully, marking the first assembly polls since the abrogation of Article 370. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Congress contested together, while the PDP and BJP ran separately.
Prominent leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and others campaigned extensively. The vote counting is scheduled for October 8. The Supreme Court had directed the Centre to hold these elections by September 30, 2024.
Doubts Revealed
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in the northern part of India. It is known for its beautiful mountains and valleys.
Assembly Elections -: Assembly elections are held to choose representatives for the legislative assembly of a state in India. These representatives make important decisions and laws for the state.
Election Commission of India -: The Election Commission of India is a government body responsible for conducting free and fair elections in India. It ensures that elections are held smoothly and without any problems.
Voter Turnout -: Voter turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their votes in an election. A high voter turnout means many people participated in the election.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special provision in the Indian Constitution that gave special autonomy to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It was abrogated, or removed, in 2019, changing the region’s status.
Chhamb constituency -: Chhamb is a specific area or region within Jammu and Kashmir that is represented by an elected official in the assembly. It had the highest voter turnout in these elections.
Supreme Court directive -: A Supreme Court directive is an order given by the Supreme Court of India, which is the highest judicial authority in the country. It ensures that certain actions, like holding elections, are carried out by a specific time.