Jammu and Kashmir assembly election highlights: No repoll recorded polls, says EC

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: The Election Commission said no repolls have been recorded so far in the three-phased Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls which concluded on Tuesday.

It also noted that despite an increase in the number of assembly seats from 83 in 2014 to 90 in 2024, the elections were completed in three phases this time as against five in 2014.

No major law and order incidents related to the elections were reported, a significant improvement from 2014 when over 170 incidents were reported, including 87 on polling days, it said.

There also have been no complaints pertaining to arbitrary preventive detention of political functionaries in these elections which is "unprecedented", the poll authority said.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: The third and final phase of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday saw a turnout of 65.48 per cent till 5 pm, which is likely to surpass the Lok Sabha poll turnout in the corresponding seven districts, according to latest data available.

In the recently-held parliamentary polls, the turnout in these districts was recorded at 66.78 per cent.

The voter turnout in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the ongoing Assembly polls in the Union Territory was also higher than in the Lok Sabha elections.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: In the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, polling has seen a turnout of 65.48 percent across 40 constituencies in seven districts by 5 pm, according to the chief electoral officer.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: BJP MP and Andhra Pradesh state president Daggubati Purandeswari criticised the INDIA bloc on Tuesday, alleging the alliance has been exploiting Jammu and Kashmir for their own selfish purposes.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: In the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, Udhampur recorded the highest voter turnout at 64.43 percent by 3 pm. Samba followed with 63.24 percent, then Kathua at 62.43 percent, Jammu at 56.74 percent, Kupwara at 52.98 percent, Bandipora at 53.09 percent and Baramulla at 46.09 percent.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Aijaz Ahmad Guroo, the Independent candidate from the Sopore seat and brother of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on Tuesday said that the goal of voting is to elect a representative who can voice local concerns in the assembly. He added that in the current Union territory setup, chief minister has limited authority and the Lieutenant Governor holds significant power. Guroo urged the central government to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: With polling for 3rd and final Phase of general elections to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly receiving momentum, all polling stations of 40 assembly constituencies across seven districts in the UT have recorded 56.01 percent voter turnout till 3 pm, said chief electoral officer.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Udhampur district led with the highest turnout of 51.66% by 1 pm, followed by Kathua at 50.09%, Samba at 49.73%, Bandipora at 42.67%, Kupwara at 42.08%, Jammu at 43.36%, and Baramulla at 36.60%.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the enthusiastic participation of people in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls reflects the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies and "true mainstreaming" of democracy in the Union territory.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Sajjad Lone, president of the People’s Conference, shared his thoughts on the upcoming election results, saying, “Let’s see. Let’s hope for the best.” He pointed out that in the last election, they were competing for a strong assembly, but now they are running for what he believes is one of the weakest assemblies in India.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Mir Junaid, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party said that there is no need to talk to Pakistan until they stop sending terrorists and killing innocent people. He accused political parties of fooling the public, claiming that they will soon suggest talking to China without a valid reason.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Arif Laigaroo, the PDP candidate from the Habba Kadal constituency, expressed hope for a strong voter turnout in the ongoing elections. “Today, after 10 years, people here have got a chance to vote in democracy, so we hope that there will be voting in large numbers. The voting percentage will increase,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: With the polling gaining momentum with long queues of voters waiting eagerly to cast their ballot, all the 40 assembly constituencies across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir have recorded 28.12 percent voter turnout till 11 am in the third phase of assembly elections, said chief electoral officer of J&K.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: BJP leader Altaf Thakur said that the current election across all phases has been remarkably free of violence. He added that this makes the 2024 elections unique, marking the first time since 1990 that not a single stone has been thrown. Thakur expressed hope that voter turnout in the third phase will exceed that of the first two phases, asserting that Kashmir is now embracing democracy and moving beyond violence.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: In the third phase of polling, West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj and the Gorkha community will exercise their franchise for the first time, having gained voting rights in the assembly elections following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Jammu and Kashmir BJP president and candidate from the Nowshera seat, Ravinder Raina expressed his appreciation to the public of Jammu and Kashmir for their participation in the assembly elections. “I thank the public of Jammu and Kashmir. I thank paramilitary forces, the Election Commission, and everyone else who contributed to conducting elections here,” said Raina

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Union minister Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Modi and BJP leadership, referring to the return of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir after a long time, with voters participating in large numbers. He said that this is the first assembly election in 50 years with a 5-year term, unlike the previous 6-year terms, and credited the revocation of Article 370 for dismantling family-based politics.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Voting is underway in seven districts of the Valley: Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora in the Kashmir Division; and Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, and Samba in the Jammu Division.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: The son of former Jamaat e Islamia general secretary Dr Kaleemullah, who is contesting from the Langate constituency as an independent candidate, cast his vote on Tuesday morning.

Jamaat-backed candidates are participating in the polls after 35 years.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to the people of J&K to vote, saying that it is the “final chance to teach a lesson to those who snatched statehood” from them.

“As voting for the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections commences, I urge the people in these 40 Assembly seats to exercise their Democratic rights in large numbers. Remember, that a single vote can change your destiny and usher in a brighter future, which secures your Constitutional rights. A single vote is valuable enough to ensure better employment opportunities for the young, take on the corrupt, safeguard your land rights and ensure progress and prosperity,” he wrote on X.

The Congress leader added, “We welcome the first time voters, for the future course for Jammu and Kashmir shall be decided by their participation. Once again, I request you to join the voting queue.”

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Some of the key candidates include Choudhary Lal Singh (Congress, Basohli), Sham Lal Sharma, (BJP, Jammu North), Raman Bhalla, (Congress, RS Pura – Jammu South), former J&K BJP vice president Pawan Khajuria (independent, Udhampur East) and Jugal Kishore Sharma (former Congress minister contesting as independent, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi).

People's Conference chairman and former minister Sajjad Lone and National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh, Jammu and Kashmir ministers Raman Bhalla (R S Pura), Usman Majid (Bandipora), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurez), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Basharat Bukhari (Wagoora-Kreeri), Imran Ansari (Pattan), Ghulam Hassan Mir (Gulmarg), and Choudhary Lal Singh (Basohli) are also some other prominent candidates.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: The first phase of voting in 24 seats on September 18 registered a turnout of 61.13%, carrying forward the momentum recorded during this summer’s Lok Sabha polls, when a turnout of 58.46% was recorded, the highest in 35 years.

In the second phase, voters across 25 seats continued to turn up in unprecedented numbers, enabling a high turnout of 56.95% in an area otherwise marred by terrorism and violent boycotts.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: BJP candidate from Bahu assembly constituency, Vikram Randhawa, offered prayers at the Bawe Wali Mata Mahakali Mandir ahead of the elections. Congress' Taranjit Singh Tony and PDP's Varinder Singh are his main opponents.

"I prayed that Mata Rani strengthens the nationalist powers. These elections will take Jammu and Kashmir in a new direction. J&K has decided to take the best decision this time," Randhawa told ANI.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to cast their votes in the third and final phase of polls.

“Today is the third and last round of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. I request all voters to come forward and cast their votes to make the festival of democracy a success. I am confident that apart from the young friends who are going to vote for the first time, women power will also participate in the voting in large numbers,” he wrote on X.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 live updates: The voting in third and final phase of the assembly election across 40 seats have begun.