J&K Assembly elections conclude peacefully, voter turnout at 63.45%

The polling for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections concluded successful a "peaceful and celebratory atmosphere," marking the extremity of the 3rd and last signifier connected Tuesday.

In Phase 3, 40 Assembly constituencies crossed 7 districts saw voting astatine 5,060 polling stations. A full of 415 candidates were successful the fray, including 387 men and 28 women.

These Assembly elections, the archetypal since the abrogation of Article 370, were held successful the erstwhile authorities of Jammu and Kashmir aft a spread of astir 10 years. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 8.

"The three-phased Assembly Election successful J&K concluded contiguous with the 3rd and last signifier of polling. The Election Commission of India had issued the ceremonial docket connected August 16. Polling for 24 constituencies took spot connected September 18, the 2nd signifier for 26 constituencies connected September 25, and the last signifier for 40 constituencies today. The canvass percent successful the archetypal signifier was 61.38%, 57.31% successful the 2nd phase, and a tentative 68.72% successful the 3rd phase. The wide canvass percent stands astatine 63.45% (tentative)," according to an authoritative statement.

As per the data, Kupwara recorded a canvass percent of 65.81%, Baramulla 59.84%, Bandipora 67.57%, Ganderbal 62.83%, Srinagar 30.08%, Budgam 63.28%, Pulwama 46.99%, Shopian 57.01%, Kulgam 63.14%, and Anantnag 57.90%.

In the Jammu region, Kishtwar recorded 80.20%, Doda 71.32%, Ramban 70.57%, Reasi 74.68%, Udhampur 75.87%, Kathua 72.23%, Samba 75.22%, Jammu 70.25%, Rajouri 71.13%, and Poonch 74.37%.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) stated that the polling concluded peacefully successful a celebratory atmosphere.

"The elections were a resounding connection successful favour of democracy, successful enactment with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar's assurance expressed during the announcement of the wide elections successful J&K connected August 16," the connection said.

At the time, Rajiv Kumar had expressed that "the satellite volition witnesser the decision of nefarious interests and the triumph of ideology successful Jammu and Kashmir."

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar added, "The J&K Assembly elections people a important deepening of democracy, which volition echo successful the pages of past and animate the antiauthoritarian tone of the portion for years to come. These elections are dedicated to the radical of J&K, acknowledging their determination and content successful the antiauthoritarian process. The peaceful and participative elections are historic, with ideology taking basal much profoundly than ever before, driven by the volition of the radical of J&K."

The elections besides saw a notable summation successful elector turnout successful areas historically associated with militancy and boycotting antiauthoritarian processes. Polling percentages roseate by 12.97% successful the Pulwama Assembly constituency compared to the 2014 elections. Zainapora successful Shopian saw a 9.52% increase, portion Eidgah successful Srinagar recorded a 9.16% rise, reflecting increasing assurance successful the electoral process.

The National Conference and Congress formed a pre-poll alliance, portion the PDP and BJP contested separately.

Prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (BJP), Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and erstwhile J&K Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, campaigned extensively for weeks.

The West Pakistani exile assemblage exercised their close to ballot for the archetypal clip successful Assembly elections aft gaining citizenship pursuing the abrogation of Article 370.

In 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to clasp Assembly elections successful Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024.