look news india
Srinagar, September 18 (HS). Voting for 24 assembly seats in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir began this morning. In the first phase of voting, the fate of candidates for eight seats in Jammu division and 16 seats in Kashmir valley will be decided by the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Assembly elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the voters to take part in this festival of democracy.
There are 219 candidates in the fray in the first phase. Of these, 90 are independents.
Security arrangements are tight for voting. There are many big names in this battle. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti is contesting from Bijbehara seat and BJP's Shagun Parihar's prestige is at stake from Kishtwar seat. Assembly elections are being held for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter, “As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in the constituencies to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I especially urge the youth who are voting for the first time to exercise their franchise.”