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NATION OCTOBER 04, 2024 | The Indian Eye 6

J&K ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

Peace and Politics: State witnesses

record voter turnout in the first

election in post-370 scenario

The counting of votes will take place on October 8. In 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Centre

to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024

OUR BUREAU pressed gratitude to the people of
Jammu and Kashmir following a
Srinagar (J&K)
record voter turnout in the Assem-
he Election Commission of In- bly elections in the Union Territory.
dia said on Thursday in a press Addressing reporters at BJP head-
Tstatement that an overall 63.88 quarters in Jammu, “Assembly elec-
percent voter turnout was record- tions have successfully been held in
ed in the Assembly elections in the Jammu and Kashmir, and the BJP
Union Territory of Jammu and Kash- expresses its gratitude to the people
mir. The poll panel said that a voter of Jammu and Kashmir. We express
turn of 69.69 percent was recorded in gratitude to its voters for overwhelm-
the third phase held on October 1. ingly participating in these elections.”
Earlier the ECI stated that the Referring to the Jammu and
polling concluded peacefully in a cel- Kashmir Assembly elections, Union
ebratory atmosphere. “The elections Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said
were a resounding statement in fa- on Wednesday that a significant shift
vour of democracy, in line with Chief from a tumultuous past to a peaceful
Election Commissioner Rajiv Ku- democratic process marked a resto-
mar’s confidence expressed during ration of democracy in the region.
the announcement of the general He noted that the region
elections in J&K on August 16,” the has transitioned from having a
statement had said. “stone-pelting industry” to witnessing
The three-phase assembly elec- a remarkable 65-66% voter turnout
tions concluded peacefully in Jammu considering it a substantial victory.
and Kashmir on October 1. These “The ground situation in J-K be-
were the first assembly polls held in Voters wait in a queue to cast their votes for the final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assem- fore the elections was, there was an
Jammu and Kashmir since the abro- bly elections at a polling station in Jammu on Tuesday (ANI Photo) industry called stone-pelting indus-
gation of Article 370. try...But yesterday’s voting turnout
The Jammu and Kashmir Na- The elections, which happened sembly elections, after a decade in was 65-66 per cent, which is a huge
tional Conference and Congress, peacefully without any incidents of J&K. victory for us...Peaceful elections
partners in the INDIA alliance, violence and re-polls so far, reaf- This is the first election in Jam- were held...There is a restoration of
jointly contested the assembly elec- firm the confidence and sentiment mu and Kashmir after the abrogation democracy,” Puri said.
tions while the PDP and BJP fought expressed by the Chief Election of Article 370. Expressing confidence in the
the elections on their own. Commissioner, (CEC) Rajiv Kumar Among the 40 constituencies, 24 victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party
Prominent leaders, including while announcing the elections in the are in the Jammu division and the (BJP), the Union Minister said, “We
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Territory of J&K. rest in the Kashmir Valley. At least are sure that the BJP will win the
Union Home Minister Amit Shah The CEC had said that the peo- 415 candidates, including former elections...In the coming time, J-K’s
(BJP), Lok Sabha Leader of Oppo- ple of Jammu and Kashmir, with deputy Chief Ministers Tara Chand story will be one of the biggest sto-
sition Rahul Gandhi, and former their enthusiastic participation, will of Congress and Muzaffar Hussain ries of independent India.”
J&K Chief Ministers Farooq Abdul- give a befitting response to the nefar- Beig, are contesting in the third Puri also attacked Congress na-
lah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba ious forces trying to disrupt the dem- phase. tional president Mallikarjun Kharge
Mufti, campaigned extensively for ocratic process. The foundation that The West Pakistani refugee com- for his remark about not dying until
weeks. was built by the successful Lok Sabha munity was exercising their right to PM Modi is “removed from pow-
The counting of votes will take Election in 2024 has indeed been fur- vote for the first time in the assembly er,” and PM Modi will not be the
place on October 8. In 2023, the Su- ther strengthened, as emphasised by elections after gaining citizenship fol- Prime Minister because he wants to;
preme Court directed the Centre to CEC Kumar. EC has delivered on lowing the abrogation of Article 370. instead, he will be the PM because
hold Assembly elections in Jammu its promise by walking the talk with Now, Jammu and Kashmir BJP the people want him to be the prime
and Kashmir by September 30, 2024. smooth and seamless conduct of as- unit President Ravinder Raina ex- minister of the country.

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