Kishtwar district has recorded the highest voter turnout at 70.03% in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections as of 3 PM on Wednesday, according to data from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Doda district follows with 61.90% voter participation, while Ramban recorded a 60.04% turnout. In the Kashmir region, Kulgam saw a 50.57% turnout, Shopian 46.84%, and Anantnag 46.67%.
Pulwama district reported the lowest voter turnout in the first phase of the assembly polls, with only 36.90% of eligible voters casting their ballots. The overall voter turnout across the Union Territory stands at 50.65%.
Voting began at 7 AM and will continue until 6 PM across Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, polling was briefly halted at Bagwan Mohalla in Kishtwar due to a protest over voter identification issues. The situation was resolved, and voting resumed shortly after. “There was some confusion among the people, but the situation is now normal,” stated Kishtwar DM Rajesh Kumar Shavan.
Kashmiri migrant voters also participated in the elections under high security at the ITI College Campus in Jammu.
In the political arena, BJP’s J-K incharge and Party National General Secretary Tarun Chugh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the public’s high turnout and enthusiasm, attributing it to Modi’s visits to the Union Territory. BJP’s Kishtwar candidate Shagun Parihar criticized opposition candidates from the PDP and National Conference, accusing them of attempting to undermine her with allegations of playing the victim card.
This first phase of polling covers 24 assembly constituencies, including 16 seats in the Kashmir region and 8 in the Jammu region. The second and third phases of voting in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 25 and October 1, respectively. Vote counting will take place on October 8.