look news india
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections: Voting has started today in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in 24 assembly seats of 7 districts. 23.27 lakh voters will participate in the voting. More than 35 thousand displaced Kashmiri Pandits living in different states will also be able to vote. 24 special booths have been set up for them in Delhi.
Out of the 24 seats in the first phase, 8 seats are in Jammu division and 16 seats are in Kashmir valley. The maximum number of 7 seats are in Anantnag and the minimum number of 2 seats each are in Shopian and Ramban districts. According to the Election Commission, 219 candidates are in the fray in the first phase. These include 9 women and 92 independent candidates. 110 candidates are crorepatis while criminal cases are registered against 36.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija is contesting for the first time from Bijbehara seat, which has been the stronghold of the Mufti family. Mehbooba and her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed have been chief ministers. Voting for the 90 assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results will be declared on October 8.
Actually, assembly elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years. In the 2014 elections, PDP had won 28 seats and BJP had won 25 seats. Both the parties formed the government together.
In the first phase, voting will be held on 7 seats of Anantnag, 4 of Pulwama, 3 each of Kulgam, Kishtwar and Doda, and 2 each of Shopian and Ramban. Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts fall in Jammu division while Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian fall in Kashmir division. Pulwama's Pampore seat has the highest number of 14 candidates. Along with this, there is an electoral contest between only 3 candidates on Anantnag's Bijbehara seat.