Jammu & Kashmir Elections 2024: High Voter Turnout in Final Phase
The third and final phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir saw a voter turnout of 65.48% till 5 pm on Tuesday. Udhampur recorded the highest poll percentage of 72.91%, followed by Sambha at 72.41%, Kathua at 70.53%, Jammu at 66.79%, Bandipora at 63.33%, and Baramulla at 55.73%.
This is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Among the 40 constituencies, 24 are in the Jammu division and the rest in the Kashmir Valley. At least 415 candidates, including former deputy Chief Ministers Tara Chand of Congress and Muzaffar Hussain Beig, are contesting in the third phase.
High-profile leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and former J-K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, held extensive campaigning for weeks.
The first phase of voting held on September 18 saw a poll percentage of 61.13%, while 56.31% was recorded in the second phase held on September 25. The West Pakistani refugee community is exercising their right to vote for the first time in the assembly elections after gaining citizenship following the abrogation of Article 370.
The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have formed an alliance for these elections, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are among the other major contenders. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Jammu & Kashmir -: Jammu & Kashmir is a region in northern India. It used to be a state but is now a Union Territory.
Elections -: Elections are when people vote to choose their leaders. In this case, people in Jammu & Kashmir are voting to choose their local government leaders.
Voter Turnout -: Voter turnout means the percentage of people who actually voted out of all the people who could vote. A high voter turnout means many people voted.
Udhampur -: Udhampur is a district in Jammu & Kashmir. It had the highest number of people voting in this election phase.
Abrogation of Article 370 -: Abrogation of Article 370 means that a special law giving Jammu & Kashmir more autonomy was removed. This happened in 2019.
Candidates -: Candidates are people who are trying to get elected. In this election, 415 people are trying to win different positions.
Deputy Chief Ministers -: Deputy Chief Ministers are second-in-command leaders in a state. Tara Chand and Muzaffar Hussain Beig are former Deputy Chief Ministers.
PM Modi -: PM Modi is Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. He is a very important leader in the country.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a well-known politician in India. He is a member of the Indian National Congress party.
West Pakistani refugee community -: West Pakistani refugees are people who came to India from Pakistan a long time ago. This is the first time they are allowed to vote in Jammu & Kashmir.
Vote counting -: Vote counting is when officials count all the votes to see who won the election. This will happen on October 8.