Over 11.6% turnout recorded till 9 am in last phase of J&K assembly polls

Srinagar, Oct 01: Over 11.6 per cent electorate have exercised their franchise till 9 am in the last phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, officials said today.

“The overall poll percentage of 11.06 was recorded up to 9:00 AM in all 40 assembly constituencies across seven districts of J&K”, communicated the office of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.

Voting commenced on Tuesday for the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, covering 40 seats across seven districts, including the winter capital Jammu.

More than 39.18 lakh eligible voters are set to decide the electoral fate of 415 candidates, including two former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig.

The election will witness West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community exercise their franchise, having gained voting rights for the first assembly polls following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.

They previously participated in the Block Development Council and the District Development Council polls of 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Polling began at 7 am in 16 assembly segments in three border districts of north Kashmir amid tight security.

The assembly segments in the region going to the polls are Baramulla, Uri, Rafiabad, Pattan, Gulmarg, Sopore, and Wagoora-Kreeri (Baramulla district), Kupwara, Karnah, Trehgam, Handwara, Lolab, and Langate (Kupwara district), and Bandipora, Sonawari, and Gurez (Bandipora district).

A total of 202 candidates are in the fray in these 16 segments. (GK)