As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections kicks off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on citizens to actively engage in the democratic process by turning out in large numbers to cast their votes. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi particularly encouraged young and first-time voters to exercise their right to vote, underscoring the importance of their participation.
The first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise, PM Modi said.
These elections are especially significant, as they are the first to be held in the region since Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was revoked in 2019, marking the region’s transformation into a Union Territory. The last assembly elections in the area were held over a decade ago, making this a historic moment for the region’s democratic process.
In this initial phase, voters across seven districts, both in the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley, will head to the polls. A total of 24 out of 90 assembly seats will be contested, with eight seats in three districts of Jammu and 16 seats across four districts in Kashmir. With 219 candidates in the running, including 90 independents, the competition is fierce.
The electorate for this phase includes over 23 lakh eligible voters, among whom are 1.23 lakh young voters aged 18 to 19. To ensure a secure and smooth election, a robust multi-tier security setup has been arranged, with forces from the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, and J&K Police overseeing the process. Additionally, 14,000 polling staff will be deployed across 3,276 polling stations.
